Thanksgiving Hymns

                                                 Thanksgiving Hymns

Thanksgiving seems to get lost in the Christmas festivities. So, I thought I would bring some Thanksgiving Hymns and their authors to mind. 

The last verse of All Creatures of Our God and King follows.

Let all things their Creator bless,

And worship Him in humbleness,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, 

And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

This hymn was written by Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) and translated by William H. Draper (1855-1933)

He was a soldier in his early years, and later resolved to imitate the life of Christ. He renounced his wealth and founded the Franciscan Order of Friars. The order became itinerant evangelists, preaching and helping the poor of Italy. He wrote sixty hymns of praise and worship and encouraged church music.

It is believed this hymn was written during the last months of his life when he was suffering intense pain and almost blind.

One writer (I don't know who) said of Saint Francis, "with smiles he met the friendless, fed the poor, and freed a trapped bird and led home a child. Although he spoke no word, his text, God's love, the town did not forget."

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                                 This is My Father's World

The last verse is:

this is my Father's world,

O let me ne'er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world:

The battle is not done'

Jesus who died shall be satisfied,

and earth and heav'n be one.

Written by Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858-1901). He was an outstanding baseball pitcher and a champion swimmer. He became the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Lockport, New York. Before he left he would tell the church staff, "I am going out to see my Father's world.  From the top of the hill, he would run two miles to a deep ravine where forty different species of birds could be found. Then he would run back to the church.

He loved music and he played the organ, piano, and the violin.

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                                      Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things hath done,

In whom His world rejoices,

Who, from our mother's arms

Hath blessed us on our way

With countless gift of love,

and still is ours today.

whom earth and heaven adore'

For thus it was, is now,

And shall be evermore. Amen.

This hymn was written by Martin Rinkart (1586-1649)

He was the pastor in the city of Eilenberg. The city was surrounded by a wall. During the Thirty Years War, refugees fled to Eilenberg. Soon the city was overrun by the people seeking safety. Hunger and plagues were  throughout all areas of the town..  In 1637 Martin Rinkart conducted funerals for five thousand people, including his wife.  In one verse he prays, "Guide us when perplexed,". So he is not praying about minor problems.

He reminded us that we can thank God even during the most difficult times.

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                        Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

This hymn was written by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

He wanted this hymn to be sung by people who "are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy their religion or that any revolution on earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven."

The third verse is:

thou are giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living,

Ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our brother,

All who live in love are Thine;

teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

Hopefully this blog will help you to remember God's blessings on all.