A Hymn Of Gratitude

We sang this hymn on Wednesday for Dawn – she loved God’s creation, and believed that pollution and our abuse of the environment lies behind so much of the sickness and disease in the world. We sang it to the ‘trad’ tune [not the newer one by John Rutter]– and for many of us, it was a reminder of school assemblies long ago. It is 150 years old – but the words are still lovely.

For the beauty of the earth,

for the beauty of the skies,

For the Love which from our birth,

over and around us lies:

Christ our Lord, to Thee we raise,

this our Sacrifice of Praise.

For the beauty of each hour,

of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

sun and moon and stars of light:

For the joy of ear and eye,

for the heart and brain's delight,

For the mystic harmony

linking sense to sound and sight:

For the joy of human love,

brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above;

for all gentle thoughts and mild:

For each perfect Gift of Thine

to our race so freely given,

Graces human and Divine,

flowers of earth, and buds of Heaven:

Christ our Lord, to Thee we raise,

this our Sacrifice of Praise.