A Hymn for the Day

Kristine and I went to a wonderful performance last night by Lubomir Brabec playing classical guitar and Alžběta Vlčková on the cello. The beauty of the music was only surpassed by that of the woman sitting next to me. That has me thinking of one of my favorite hymns, For the Beauty of the Earth, by Folliott Sandford Pierpoint.

For the beauty of the earth, 
 for the glory of the skies, 
 for the love which from our birth 
 over and around us lies; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For the beauty of each hour 
 of the day and of the night, 
 hill and vale, and tree and flower, 
 sun and moon, and stars of light; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For the joy of ear and eye, 
 for the heart and mind's delight, 
 for the mystic harmony, 
 linking sense to sound and sight; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For the joy of human love, 
 brother, sister, parent, child, 
 friends on earth and friends above, 
 for all gentle thoughts and mild; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For thy church, that evermore 
 lifteth holy hands above, 
 offering up on every shore 
 her pure sacrifice of love; 
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

 For thyself, best Gift Divine, 
 to the world so freely given, 
 for that great, great love of thine, 
 peace on earth, and joy in heaven:  
 Lord of all, to thee we raise 
 this our hymn of grateful praise.

We wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving. 

P.S. Benny and Rene - we wish we would have been out on a double date with you all last night.  The music was right up Benny's alley.

P.P.S.  Here we are...

Peter