Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service

Above:  Byzantine Mosaic of Jesus Healing the Man with a Withered Hand

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Hymnbook for Christian Worship (1970), of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the American Baptist Convention

Words (in 1961) by Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984), a British Calvinist minister who spent the latter part of his career in The United Reformed Church, formed by a 1972 merger; The Hymns of The United Methodist Hymnal (Diana Sanchez, Editor) tells me that the basis for the hymn is Micah 6:6-8

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1.  Lord, whose love through humble service

Bore the weight of human need,

Who did’st on the Cross, forsaken,

Work with mercy’s perfect deed;

We, thy servants, bring the worship

Not of voice alone, but heart

Consecrating to thy purpose

Every gift thou dost impart.

2.  Still thy children wander homeless;

Still the hungry cry for bread;

Still the captives long for freedom;

Still in grief men mourn their dead.

As, O Lord, thy deep compassion

Healed the sick and freed the soul,

Use the love thy Spirit kindles

Still to save and make men whole.

3.  As we worship, grant us vision,

Till thy love’s revealing light,

In its height and depth and greatness

Dawns upon our quickened sight,

Making known the needs and burdens

Thy compassion bids us bear,

Stirring us to tireless striving

Thine abundant life to share.

4.  Called from worship unto service,

Forth in thy dear name we go,

To the child, the youth, the aged,

Love in living deeds to show,

Hope and health, good will and comfort,

Counsel, aid and peace we give,

That thy children, Lord, in freedom

May thy mercy know and live.