311. One Holy Church of God

1 One holy Church of God appears
Through every age and race,
Unwasted by the lapse of years,
Unchanged by changing place.

2 From oldest time, on farthest shores,
Beneath the pine or palm,
One Unseen Presence she adores,
With silence or with psalm.

3 Her priests are all God's faithful sons,
To serve the world raised up;
The pure in heart her baptized ones;
Love, her communion cup.

4 The truth is her prophetic gift,
The soul her sacred page;
And feet on mercy’s errands swift
Do make her pilgrimage.

5 O living Church, thine errand speed;
Fulfill thy task sublime;
With bread of life earth’s hungers feed;
Redeem the evil time!

Amen.

Text Information
First Line: One holy church of God appears
Title: One Holy Church of God
Author: Samuel Longfellow (1864)
Meter: C. M.
Publication Date: 1957
Scripture:
Tune Information
Name: TASK SUBLIME
Harmonizer: Nevin W. Fisher, b. 1900
Meter: C. M.
Key: F Major
Source: English Folk Song
Copyright: Music adaptation copyright 1951, by the House of the Church of the Brethren. Used by permission.



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