Above: Icon of PIetà
Image in the Public Domain
Text by George Thomas Coster (1835-1912); written for The Fellowship Hymnbook, National Council of Adult School Unions (founded in 1899)
Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927)
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O God our Father, throned on high,
Enrobed in ageless splenour,
To Thee, in awe and love and joy,
Ourselves we would surrender–
To live obedient to Thy will
As servants to each other,
And show our faithfulness to Thee
By love to one another.
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To serve by love! O teach us how;
Be this our great vocation–
To comfort grief, to seek the lost
With message of salvation;
In loving may our full hearts beat,
Our words be wise and winning;
In helping others may our joy
Have ever new beginning.
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Thee, Lord, for Thy dear Son we bless;
His heart for us was broken;
O love! upon the bitter Cross
Thy deepest word was spoken;
The echo of that word is heard
In love for every brother;
So test we, Lord, our love for Thee,
By loving one another.
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