Thursday 1 November 2012

FOR ALL THE SAINTS - ALL SAINTS DAY

This is one of my favourite All Saints hymns:


For all the saints who from their labours rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blest
Alleluia, allelulia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
thou Lord their captain in the well fought fight;
thou in the darkness still their one true light;
Alleluia, allelulia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them, the victor's crown of gold!
Allelulia, alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine;
Alleluia, alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong;
Alleluia, alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors come their rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest;
Alleluia, alleluia!

But lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints trumphant rise in bright array;
the King of Glory passes on his way!
Alleluia, alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from oceans farthest coast
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia, alleluia

(William Walsham How - from Singing the Faith)

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