God of the Past, Accept Our Praise

God of the past

ac­cept our praise

For trea­sures of re­mem­bered days

Wherein this grate­ful church can trace

The light and com­fort of Thy grace:

For saints whose words Thy flock have fed

For war­ri­ors who Thy host have led

To bat­tle with the Spir­it’s sword—

For these ac­cept our praise

O Lord.

God of the pre­sent

Thee alone

Our Sav­ior and our king we own;

Grant us with op­en eyes to see

How rich in love Thy church may be;

Touch heart and tongue with heav’n­ly fire;

To ho­li­er serv­ice now in­spire;

O con­se­crate anew

we pray

And make us one in Thee to­day.

God of the fu­ture

in whose sight

The ag­es are as day and night

Make Thou our church a light in­deed

For com­ing stress of doubt or need;

Feed with Thy quick­en­ing oil the flame

That we may find a place and a name

In the ce­les­ti­al tem­ple

when

Thou rul­est in the hearts of men.

God of eter­nal life

whose pow­er

Upholds us in our lit­tle hour

Before Thee cen­tu­ries come and go

As fleet

as frail as win­ter snow;

Draw us this day from earth aside

To learn the things that shall abide;

Then lead us back to toil

that we

May win earth’s king­doms

Lord

for Thee.