The Hymnal 1982

I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God—and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.

Monarch of all things, fit us for thy mansions;
banish our weakness, health and wholeness sending;
bring us to heaven, where thy saints united
joy without ending.

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land,
A home within a wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burden of the day.

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son;
thee will I cherish, thee will I honor,
thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

Jesus came, adored by angels,
came with peace from realms on high;
Jesus came for our redemption,
lowly came on earth to die:
Alleluia, alleluia!
came in deep humility.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation:
join the great throng,
psaltery, organ, and song,
sounding in glad adoration.

He was the Word that spake it,
he took the bread and brake it,
and what that Word did make it,
I do believe and take it.

Where is this stupendous stranger?
Prophets, shepherds, kings, advise.
Lead me to my Master’s manger,
show me where my Savior lies.

Thou art the Way, to thee alone
from sin and death we flee;
and all who would the Father seek,
must seek him, Lord, by thee.

Let us now our voices raise,
wake the day with gladness;
God himself to joy and praise
turns our human sadness;
joy that martyrs won their crown,
opened heaven’s bright portal,
when they laid the mortal down
for the life immortal.

With prayer the Father we implore:
O Father, glorious evermore,
we plead with thee for grace and power
to conquer in temptation’s hour,
to guide whate’er we nobly do,
with love all envy to subdue,
and give us grace our wrongs to bear,
to make ill-fortune turn to fair.

Sweet were his words and kind his look,
when mothers round him pressed;
their infants in his arms he took,
and on his bosom blessed.
Safe from the world’s alluring harms,
beneath his watchful eye,
thus in the circle of his arms
may we forever lie.

Help me the slow of heart to move
by some clear, winning word of love;
teach me the wayward feet to stay,
and guide them in the homeward way.

Now the day is over,
night is drawing nigh,
shadows of the evening
steal across the sky.

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
his hands the wonders wrought.

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
praising thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive the dark of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.

God is Love, let heaven adore him;
God is Love, let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before him
and exalt him with one voice.
God who laid the earth’s foundation,
God who spread the heavens above,
God who breathes through all creation:
God is Love, eternal Love.

Come with the vision and the strength I need
to serve my God, and all humanity;
fulfillment of my life in love outpoured—
my life in you, O Christ, your love in me.

Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord,
and drink the holy Blood for you outpoured.
Saved by that Body and that holy Blood,
with souls refreshed, we render thanks to God.

Holy Spirit, Lord of love,
who descended from above,
gifts of blessing to bestow
on your waiting Church below,
once again in love draw near
to your servants gathered here;
from their bright baptismal day
you have led them on their way.

Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
the ill that I this day have done;
that with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

O Trinity of blessed light,
O Unity of princely might,
the fiery sun now goes his way;
shed thou within our hearts thy ray.

We would not live by bread alone,
but by thy word of grace,
in strength of which we travel on
to our abiding place.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown for my soul!

Great love of God, come in!
Well-spring of heavenly peace;
thou Living Water, come!
Spring up, and never cease.

Hence with earthly treasure:
thou art all my pleasure,
Jesus, my desire!
Hence, for pomps I care not,
e’en as though they were not
rank and fortune’s hire.
Want and gloom, cross, death and tomb;
nought that I may suffer ever
shall from Jesus sever.

Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt;
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Father, we praise thee, now the night is over,
active and watchful, stand we all before thee;
singing we offer prayer and meditation:
thus we adore thee.

O God, unseen yet ever near,
thy presence may we feel;
and thus inspired with holy fear,
before thine altar kneel.

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
and drives away our fear.