Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Words: Almira Bottoms, in The Pilot, by Alfred E. Helton (Lenoir, North Carolina: Teachers’ Music Publishing, 1914), number 69.
Music: Kırşehir Charles A. Brock (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Bottoms or Brock (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Today we think of loved ones gone,
Whose forms lie ’neath the sod so drear,
And long to join them round the throne,
And with them praise the Savior dear.
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Sing praise to God this sacred day,
And scatter flowers o’er mounds of clay;
While life shall last, all honor pay
Unto the dear ones gone!
While we are singing songs of love,
And scattering loving tributes round,
Our hearts are raised to Heav’n above,
Where we by Jesus shall be crowned.
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Our loved now resting ’neath the sod,
We’ll meet o’er on the other side,
And dwell forever there with God,
If here the Savior is our guide.
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Then ever ready let us be,
With spirit pure and free from sin,
That when our Savior we shall see,
He’ll bid us, Welcome! Enter in!
Refrain