"Blest Be the Tie that Binds"
                        by John Fawcett, 1740-1817
                                 Text From:
                    THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
             (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.328



        1. Blest be the tie that binds
        Our hearts in Christian love;
        The fellowship of kindred minds
        Is like to that above.

        2. Before our Father's throne
        We pour our ardent prayers;
        Our fears, our hopes, our alms, are one,
        Our comforts and our cares.

        3. We share our mutual woes,
        Our mutual burdens bear,
        And often for each other flows
        The sympathizing tear.

        4. When here our pathways part,
        We suffer bitter pain;
        Yet, one in Christ and one in heart,
        We hope to meet again.

        5. This glorious hope revives
        Our courage by the way,
        While each in expectation lives
        And longs to see the day.

        6. From sorrow, toil, and pain,
        And sin we shall be free
        And perfect love and friendship reign
        Through all eternity.
       

        Notes:
        Hymn #464 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Eph. 4:3
        Author: John Fawcett, 1772, alt.      
        Composer: Lowell Mason, 1832
        Tune: "Boylston"