Tunes for 1 & 2: Winchester Old (While shepherds watched); St Peter (How sweet the name of Jesus sounds); St Anne (O God our help in ages past)
Hymn 1: All things which live
All things which live below the sky,
Or move within the sea,
Are creatures of the Lord most high,
And brothers unto me.
The sea-gull whiter than the foam,
The fish that dart beneath;
The lowing cattle coming home;
The goats upon the heath.
God taught the wren to build her nest,
The lark to soar above,
The hen to gather to her breast
The offspring of her love.
Beneath his heaven there's room for all;
He gives to all their meat;
He sees the meanest sparrow fall
Unnoticed in the street.
Almighty Father, King of Kings,
The lover of the meek,
Make me a friend of helpless things,
Defender of the weak.
(words by Edward J Brailsford, 1841-1921)
Hymn 2: Go tell all creatures
Go tell all creatures in the world,
the Good News that I bring;
This was the message Jesus gave,
and he is Lord and King.
Let’s tell it by the deeds we do;
in ways they understand –
Deal gently with the beasts and birds
who share our Saviour’s land.
Protect his forests, heal the air,
care for his shining sea,
Arrest our cruelty and greed,
and set its victims free.
So shall our lives proclaim the One
who sent a little child
To lead all things safe home, in Him,
redeemed and reconciled.
To where upon his holy hill,
none hurt and none destroy
And all creation’s present groans
are turned to songs of joy.
(words by Armorel Kay Walling)
Hymn 3: All things bright and beautiful
Chorus:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.
(Chorus)
The purple-headed mountain,
The river rushing by,
The sunset aqnd the morning,
That brightens up the sky.
(Chorus)
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God almighty,
Who has made all things well.
(Chorus)
(words by Mrs CF Alexander 1818-1895)
Tunes for 4 & 5: Old Hundredth (‘All people that on earth do dwell’)
Hymn 4: All living things
You made all living things; with care
You feed the wanderers of the air;
You give the beasts their dens and caves,
And fish their dwelling in the waves.
You call all beings into birth
That crowd the ocean, air, and earth;
And all in heaven and earth proclaim
The glory of your holy name.
(words by WBO Peabody, 1799 – 1847)
Hymn 5: For gentleness to all creatures
To all the humble beasts there be,
To all the birds on land and sea,
Great Spirit sweet protection give,
That free and happy they may live!
And to our hearts the rapture bring
Of love for every living thing;
Make of us all one kin, and bless
Our ways with Christ’s own gentleness.
(words by John Galsworthy, 1867-1933)
