Wednesday, November 21, 2007

A Hymn for Thanksgiving.

In light of the fact that tomorrow is Thanksgiving day, I'm going to post a hymn in honor of it.
I first sung this particular hymn about seven years ago during our Church's' missions conference. I was intrigued with the melody as it seemed "haunting"to me at the time; now I think the music actually causes me to focus more on the words.

"Come, Ye Thankful People, Come"

"Come, ye thankful people come-
Raise the song of harvest home.
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied:
Come to God's own temple, come-
Raise the song of harvest home."

"All the world is God's own field,
Fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear,
Then the full corn shall appear:
Lord of harvest, grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be."

"For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away;
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast,
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore."


"Even so, Lord, quickly come
To Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou They people in,
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
There, forever purified,
In They presence to abide:
Come, with all Thine angels, come-
Raise the glorious harvest home."
Words by: Henry Alford (1810-1871)
Music by: George J. Elvey (1816-1893)

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