God said,
Genesis 1:3Let there be light,
and there was light.
Words: Thomas Paxton, 1872.
Music: God’s Love William F. Sherwin (1826–1888) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Paxton (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
God of the glorious sunshine,
God of refreshing rain,
Whose voice bids earth awaken
And clothe itself again.
With life of richest beauty,
In plant, and flower, and tree;
Thou God of light and splendor,
We rise and worship Thee.
God of the hill and mountain,
Of valley and of dale,
Whose finger paints the rainbows;
Thy beauties never fail
To raise our souls in wonder,
And turn our thoughts to Thee;
Thou God of living nature,
We stand and worship Thee.
God of the busy daytime,
God of the quiet night,
Whose peace pervades the darkness,
And greets us with the light;
Safe with Thy presence near us,
Wherever we may be,
Thou God, our great protector,
We love and worship Thee.
God of the whole creation,
God of all life below,
We seek Thy nearer presence,
Thy grander life to know;
When we, Thy heightened splendor,
Thy greater glories see,
Thou God of all creation,
We still shall worship Thee.