Thanksgiving hymn or ??

Subject: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 12:24 PM

I've been asked to lead my small church choir in an a cappella hymn or song for Thanksgiving. We're getting to be known as the "folk church" for our selections (gee, I wonder how that happened??) and the congrgation loves to be asked to sing along, though this isn't a requirement for this particular time.

At this point I welcome any ideas, except for the old chestnuts we'll be singing with the congragation anyway ("We gather to gether..." etc)

Any suggestions, friends?

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: IanC
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 12:40 PM

If you don't already use them, you could try some of the English "Harvest Festival" hymns which would mostly be appropriate I guess. They're usually sung congregationally with minimal accompaniment or sometimes none at all. Favourites ...

"We Plough The Field and Scatter"
Harvest Home ("Come Ye Faithful People, Come")

:-)

btw ... what's this A Capella stuff?

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: MMario
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 12:44 PM

"A cappella" is the common term west of the pond for "un-accompianied"

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 12:51 PM

East of the pond it means un-accompanied too.

Subject: Lyr Add: THANKSGIVING EVE (Bob Franke)
From: mg
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 12:51 PM

Here's Bob Franke's Thanksgiving Eve, copied from another thread..

THANKSGIVING EVE
(Bob Franke)

It's so easy to dream of the days gone by
It's a hard thing to think of the times to come
But the grace to accept every moment as a gift
Is a gift that is given to some

What can you do with your days
But work and hope
Let your dreams bind your work to your play
What can you do with each moment of your life
But love 'till you've loved it away
Love 'till you've loved it away.

There are sorrows enough for the whole world's end
There are no guarantees but the grave
But the life that I live and the times that I spend
Are a treasure too precious to save.

As it was, so it is, as it is shall it be,
And it shall be while lips that kiss have breath;
Many waters indeed only nurture Love's seed
And its flower overshadows the power of death.

Copyright (C) 1982 Robert J. Franke
Published by Telephone Pole Music Publishing Co. (BMI) used by permission
Recorded by Sally Rogers on In the Circle of the Sun, Thrushwood records 002.
Full version recorded by Bob Franke on In This Night, FF70563 Flying Fish
Records
@seasonal @love
filename[ THANKSGV
DC

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: Burke
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 05:48 PM

I'm thinking you have a copy of the Sacred Harp. Here's a good one.

We thank the Lord of heav'n and earth,
Who hath preserved us from our birth.

Chorus:

For present joys, for blessings past,
And for the hope of heav'n at last.

How shall we half our task fulfill?
We thank Thee for Thy mind and will.

(Chorus)

Redeemed us oft from death and dread,
And with Thy gifts our table spread,

Lyrics: Joseph Cottle

This is 318, Present Joys in the Sacred Harp. We like Ballstown (217) with it. If your choir has trouble with fuges, it's Long Meter, though & will work with Old Hundred & probably 25% of the tunes in your hymnal.

I suspect there's a version without chorus, I'll see if I can find it.

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: Burke
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 06:08 PM

The original is much longer!

We thank thee, Lord of heaven and earth!
Who hast preserved us from our birth;
Redeemed us oft from death and dread,
And with thy gifts our table spread.

The fabric of this earthly frame
First from thy sovereign fiat came;
And, at thy word, the spangled sky
Proclaim'd thine own Infinity!

But though so high, the King of Kings!
Thou dost behold the meanest things!
Now guide the spheres that round us roll,
And now support the contrite soul!

We thank thee for thy still small voice,
Which oft has check'd our wayward choice;
For limbs preserved, for senses clear,
And for our friendships, doubly dear.

Thy Providence has been our stay,
When other helps were far away;
Our constant guide, through every stage,
From infancy to riper age.

How shall we half our task fulfil!
We thank thee for thy Mind and Will;
For present joys, and blessings past,
And for the hope of heaven at last.

With mercies in perpetual round,
Should aught but thankfulness be found?
And those who pace a flowery road,
Forget the hand that all bestow'd?

On every side, below, above,
All is stupendous power and love!
Alike, wheree'er we fix our eyes,
New thanks are claim'd, new wonders rise!

And shall we strangely turn away
To cold and night, from warmth and day?
Ponder on ills, and waste, unwise,
Our moments in rebellious sighs?

Shall we, mid countless gifts beside,
Behold some good, by heaven denied,
Nor let our grateful thanks prevail,
If, of the thousand, one should fail?

Oh! shall our tongues, in accents sweet,
To God, no song of praise repeat;
No incense from our hearts arise
For Christ, the One Great Sacrifice?

For benefits so rich and free,
What shall we render, Lord! to thee?
Let us begin this theme sublime,
Which will survive the wreck of time.


Hymns and Sacred Lyrics. In Three Parts. By Joseph Cottle. London: T. Cadell, 1828.

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 08:08 PM

Now Thank We All Our God - at the cyberhymnal here, but IMO it's a bit formal, almost like a Bach chorale. I knew a fella who used it for the recessional at his wedding!

I like Alleluia (even though it doesn't mean thanks) for a capella singing. The alto part is beautiful. The only words in the first verse are alleluia, so the congregation could sing along too. It's in the 1975 Baptist Hymnal, #422, but I only found one midi on the net, a rather lame one at that. this page, scroll down to alleluia - it's a bit hard to hear with my inferior sound card - just remember that the harmonies are beautiful and the melody extremely easy.

You could sing both of them - ending with Alleluia. ;-)

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 08:53 PM

These are at The Cyber Hymnal (under Topics: Thanksgiving).

COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME
CREATION'S LORD, WE GIVE THEE THANKS
FATHER, WHATE'ER OF EARTHLY BLISS
FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THE YEAR
FOUNTAIN OF MERCIES, GOD OF LOVE
GIVE THANKS
GIVE THANKS TO GOD THE LORD
GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, JEHOVAH
GOD THE FATHER! WHOSE CREATION
GREAT GOD OF NATIONS, NOW TO THEE
HOW GOOD IT IS TO THANK THE LORD
KING OF KINGS
LORD OF THE HARVEST, ONCE AGAIN
LORD, WE THANK THEE FOR THE PLEASURE
MY GOD, I THANK THEE
NOT ALONE FOR MIGHTY EMPIRE
NOW OUR GOD
NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD
O GIVE THANKS TO HIM WHO MADE
O KING OF KINGS, O LORD OF HOSTS
O LORD, ALL GLORIOUS, LIFE OF LIFE
O RENDER THANKS TO GOD ABOVE
PRAISE, O PRAISE OUR GOD AND KING
PRAISE TO GOD, IMMORTAL PRAISE
REJOICE TODAY WITH ONE ACCORD
SING TO THE LORD OF HARVEST
SOWER WENT FORTH SOWING, THE
THANKS TO GOD
THOU GRACIOUS POWER
THY BOUNTIES, GRACIOUS LORD
TO THEE, ETERNAL SOUL, BE PRAISE!
TO THEE, O GOD, WE RENDER THANKS
TO THEE, O LORD, OUR HEARTS WE RAISE
WE GATHER TOGETHER
WE PLOW THE FIELDS
WE THANK THEE, LORD, FOR THIS FAIR EARTH
WE THANK YOU, LORD
WHAT OUR FATHER DOES IS WELL
WHAT SHALL I RENDER TO MY GOD (Watts)
WHAT SHALL I RENDER TO MY GOD (Wesley)
WHOLE-HEARTED THANKSGIVING TO THEE I WILL BRING
WITH GRATEFUL HEART MY THANKS I BRING

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: leeneia
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 09:32 PM

How about this work, traditionally set to the tune of "Ash Grove"?
(I don't know if the words are public domain or not.) Anyway, having a familiar tune is always a help.

1 Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
    To God the creator triumphantly raise.
    Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
    Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
    God's banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,
    A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
    Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished
    As forward we travel from light into light.

2 His law he enforces, the stars in their courses
    And sun in its orbit obediently shine;
    The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
    The deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.
    We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
    With glad adoration a Song let us raise
    Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
    "To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!"

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: KT
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 09:34 PM

Animaterra,

This one, Stewards of Earth, is not one that talks about thanksgiving, but it evokes it. It's a very powerful song that I can't hear or sing without being deeply grateful and inspired to take action. Perhaps it could work for this occasion, or perhaps another time.

KT


STEWARDS OF EARTH

All praise to you, O Lord of all creation;
You made the world, and it is yours alone,
The planet earth you spun in its location
Amid the stars adorning heaven's dome.
We lease the earth but for a life's duration,
Yet for this life it is our cherished home.

With grace you clothed the earth in splendor;
With teeming life you filled the sea and land.
Instill in us a sense of awe and wonder,
When we behold the bounty of your hand.
Then when we hear the voice of bird or thunder,
We hear the voice our faith can understand.

To tend the earth is our entrusted duty,
For earth is ours to use and not abuse,
O gracious Lord, true Source of all resources,
Forgive our greed that wields destruction's sword.
Then let us serve as wise and faithful stewards,
While earth gives glory to creation's Lord.

[sung to FINLANDIA, Jean Sibelius]



KT

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 05:53 AM

Great ideas, everyone! Thanks!

I'll let you know what I decide.

Allison

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 07:11 AM

KT, do you know who wrote the words you posted?

Allison

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: KT
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 02:05 PM

Hi Allison.....see PM

KT

Subject: RE: Thanksgiving hymn or ??
From: Tansy
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 04:18 PM

When I was a child and The RC Church wasn't so constipated about using "Protestant" hymns..."Now Thank We All Our God" was the traditional Hymn sung at Thanksgiving Masses. I think Thanksgiving was an optional day of observance when I was a kid. My radical, Holy-Roller, Seeing-Visions-of-the-virgin kinda Mom swears its a holy day of obligation now but I wouldn't be so sure. She swear a lot of things to be Church Law that are merely tradition or things she wishes were Church Law. She doesn't mean any harm by it...just enjoys being RIGHT about EVERYTHING.

Sometime in the late 70's the RC Church had a purge of any hymns or folk-songs they presumed to be "Too Protestant" in nature and the Folk-Masses came to an abrupt halt in our Arch-Diocese. Most of us tried to hang in there, but as the "approved" list of songs got smaller and smaller, we all eventually walked away, if not just from playing in the church but some of us from the Church itself.

"Now Thank We All Our God" got tossed along with hundreds of other swell tunes. It's shame becuase it's a perfect song for the occasion. That and "Simple Gifts."