For All the Saints (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 422)
1 For all the saints who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
2 Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
3 Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine, we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
4 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!
5 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
6 But then there breaks a yet more glorious day:
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
7 From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Text: William W. How; Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A730924
Devotion
It鈥檚 easy for me to get a little earthbound in my faith journey鈥攕o my heart rejoices to be offered a glimpse beyond the beautiful bounds of this planet Earth. My dad died unexpectedly in 2019. I miss his seemingly random phone calls that often included a question about God, life, or religion. He was curious, loved God, and was willing to help the most difficult people. This hymn paints a picture for me of his face, full of awe and wonder, his wide eyes glittering in the light of God as he found his way to heaven, robed in white. I can imagine the phone call, 鈥淪is, you gotta see this, it鈥檚 hard to describe!鈥 I can hear his voice break at the beauty he has found in the presence of the God he loved so well. The gift of this memory is a powerful reminder to make room for moments of awe and wonder.
Prayer
God of wonder, like a dawn from on high, you are constantly breaking through our daily routines to shine your love in our lives. Make us eager for sightings, sounds, the sense of your presence right here with us. Amen.