Chorale Book for England

Come, Christians, praise your Maker's goodness,

Rejoice in Him and in His gift;

To-day before the Lord of harvest

In happy songs your voices lift;

For He who cared for us of yore

Hath bless'd our fields and homes once more.

Accept, O Lord, our thankful praises

For all our Father's blessing gives;

May it increase our faith, and lead us

To praise Thee by obedient lives,

That every deed and word may prove

We feel and trust our Father's love.

Thou feedest us in pure compassion;

Teach us to care for others' need;

Let each, as he is able, comfort

The sick and poor, the hungry feed:

O Father Thou of all below,

On each, what most he needs, bestow.

Open Thy bounteous hands in blessing

Thus to refresh us, year by year;

Provide for us through all life's journey,

And make us faithful stewards while here

Of all that to our care is given,

That greater gifts be ours in heaven.

Preserve to us what Thou hast sent us,

And grant us calm and peaceful days

And grateful hearts, that we may use it

In quiet gladness to Thy praise:

And while our bodies thus are fed,

O grant our souls the Living Bread!