There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee…and both Jesus was called, and His disciples.
John 2:1–2
Words: George H. Bourne, 1867. Bourne wrote this hymn for the wedding of his sister, who married Allan Becher Webb, future Bishop of Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Music: Martyrdom Hugh Wilson, 1800. Arranged by Ralph E. Hudson, circa 1885 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Bourne or Wilson (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
O Christ, the King of human life,
In royal bounty pour
On these Thy servants, man and wife,
Thy blessing evermore.
On ties of home, in life, in death,
Thy seal divine was set:
Those thirty years at Nazareth
Thou, Lord, rememberest yet!
And by these holy years, we pray,
To these Thine own be nigh:
Their common life from day to day
Direct and sanctify.
At Cana’s marriage first didst Thou
Thy glory manifest;
Oh, come to be among us now
A wonder-working guest!
Poor weakly elements are ours,
But wealth and might are Thine:
Rule earthly life by heavenly powers,
The water change to wine!
And in Thy faith, and in Thy fear,
May these united be,
True type of those espousals dear
Between Thy Church and Thee.
So let them both at last attain
That better country’s coast,
Where with the Father Thou dost reign
And with the Holy Ghost.