Scripture Verse

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Introduction

Words: George W. Briggs, 1920.

Music: Com­me­mo­ra­tion Bar­tho­lo­mä­us Ge­si­us, 1605. Ar­ranged by Jo­hann S. Bach, 1769 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Briggs (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Our Fa­ther, by whose ser­vants
Our house was built of old,
Whose hand hath crowned her child­ren
With bless­ing ma­ni­fold,
For Thine un­fail­ing mer­cies
Far-strewn along our way,
With all who passed be­fore us,
We praise Thy name to­day.

The change­ful years un­rest­ing
Their si­lent course have sped,
New com­rades ev­er bring­ing
In com­rades’ steps to tread;
And some are long for­got­ten,
Long spent their hopes and fears;
Safe rest they in Thy keep­ing,
Who chang­est not with years.

They reap not where they la­bored;
We reap what they have sown;
Our har­vest may be gar­nered
By ag­es yet unk­nown.
The days of old have dow­ered us
With gifts be­yond all praise;
Our Fa­ther, make us faith­ful
To serve the com­ing days.

Before us and be­side us,
Still hold­en in Thine hand
A cloud un­seen of wit­ness,
Our el­der com­rades stand:
One fa­mi­ly un­brok­en,
We join, with one ac­claim,
One heart, one voice up­lift­ing
To glo­ri­fy Thy name.