For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty 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.
In the spring of 1863, Folliott S. Pierpoint sat on a hilltop outside his native city of Bath, England, admiring the country view and the winding Avon River. Inspired by the view to think about God’s gifts in creation and in the church, Pierpont wrote this text.
This hymn is a favorite of mine especially during spring when everything seems new and fresh. The greens are bright green, the mustard in the fields is especially bright yellow, and colorful spring flowers are everywhere. The crops are being planted in freshly turned earth, and some fields have begun to show tiny shoots of corn.
This is a time of newness, of growth, and of beauty. We have elected new officers, and with each comes a new perspective to share. There are new opportunities for all to serve God: visiting shut-ins, sending cards, preparing meals, transportation, helping with VBS, Midweek, ushering, and preparing and serving communion.
If you’ve never done some of these before, or even if it’s been a while, try it and feel God working in you. Just as a new coat of paint freshens old walls, Jesus’ resurrection has given us a fresh new start.
“No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. (Luke 5:36)
