Scripture Verse

The kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Matthew 13:31

Introduction

portrait
Friedrich Silcher (1789–1860)

Words: Va­ri­ous­ly at­trib­ut­ed to Eb­en­ez­er C. Brew­er (1810–1897) or Ju­lia A. Car­ney, 1845.

Music: Gott ein Va­ter Fried­rich Sil­cher (1789–1860). Ar­ranged by Wil­helm Tschirsch (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Julia A. Carney (1823–1908)

Lyrics

Little drops of wa­ter,
Little grains of sand,
Make the migh­ty ocean
And the beau­te­ous land.

And the lit­tle mo­ments,
Humble though they be,
Make the migh­ty ag­es
Of eter­ni­ty.

Little deeds of kind­ness,
Little words of love,
Make our earth an Ed­en,
Like the Hea­ven above.

So our li­ttle er­rors
Lead the soul away,
From the paths of vir­tue
Into sin to stray.

Little seeds of mer­cy
Sown by youth­ful hands,
Grow to bless the na­tions
Far in hea­then lands.

Glory then for ev­er
Be to Fa­ther, Son,
With the Ho­ly Spir­it,
Blessèd Three in One.