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For your gift of God the SpiritAuthor: Edith Margaret Clarkson (1959, 1976, 1984)Published in 6 hymnals Printable scores: PDF, SibeliusAudio files: MIDI |
1 For your gift of God the Spirit,
power to make our lives anew,
pledge of life and hope of glory,
Savior, we would worship you.
Crowning gift of resurrection
sent from your ascended throne,
fullness of the very Godhead,
come to make your life our own.
2 He who in creation's dawning
brooded on the lifeless deep,
still across our nature's darkness
moves to wake our souls from sleep,
moves to stir, to draw, to quicken,
thrusts us through with sense of sin;
brings to birth and seals and fills us
saving Advocate within.
3 He, himself the living Author,
wakes to life the sacred Word,
reads with us its holy pages
and reveals our risen Lord.
He it is who works within us,
teaching rebel hearts to pray,
he whose holy intercessions
rise for us both night and day.
4 He, the mighty God, indwells us;
his to strengthen, help, empower;
his to overcome the tempter
ours to call in danger's hour.
In his strength we dare to battle
all the raging hosts of sin,
and by him alone we conquer
foes without and foes within.
5 Father, grant your Holy Spirit
in our hearts may rule today,
grieved not, quenched not, but unhindered,
work in us his sovereign way.
Fill us with your holy fullness,
God the Father, Spirit, Son;
in us, through us, then, forever,
shall your perfect will be done.
Margaret Clarkson, whose rarely-used first name is Edith, was born in 1915 into, as Margaret herself described, “a loveless and unhappy marriage” which broke up when she was twelve. The memories of her childhood were of tension, fear, insecurity, and isolation. Margaret was born in Melville, Saskatchewan where she lived until her parents, Frederick and Ethel, and the family moved to Toronto when she was around age four. Throughout her life, she was plagued by pain; initially from migraines, accompanied by convulsive vomiting, and then arthritis—two ailments that accompanied her continually. In Destined for Glory, she related sadly that her mother told her that her first words were “my head hurts.” At age three Margaret, or Ma… Go to person page >| First Line: | For your gift of God the Spirit |
| Title: | For Your Gift of God the Spirit |
| Author: | Edith Margaret Clarkson (1959, 1976, 1984) |
| Meter: | 8.7.8.7 D |
| Language: | English |
| Copyright: | Text © 1960, 1976, Margaret Clarkson. Assigned 1987 to Hope Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Used by permission |
Scripture References:
st. 2 = Gen. 1:2
st. 3 = Rom. 8:26-27
st. 5 = Eph. 4:30, 1 Thess. 5:19
Margaret Clarkson (PHH 238) wrote this text about the work of the Holy Spirit during the summer of 1959 at the Severn River, Ontario, Canada. Requested by Stacey Woods, General Secretary of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship in Canada and the United States, the text was first published in Anywhere Songs (IVCF songbook, 1960). Clarkson revised the text for use in IVCF's Hymns II in 1976 and made final revisions in 1984.
If "Veni, Creator Spiritus" (425 and 426) is the classic prayer text to the Holy Spirit, "For Your Gift" is the best teaching text on the Holy Spirit. Inspired by biblical passages about the work of the Spirit in creation, the church, and our personal lives, this text reads like a study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. It is a splendid example of sung theology, which brings our heart's confession onto our lips.
Liturgical Use:
Pentecost; appropriate for many other services.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook
| Instances (6) | First Line | Text Title | Refrain First Line | Authors | Composers | Meter | Scripture | Tune Title | Tune Key | Incipit | Languages | Publication Date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition #603 | For your gift of God the Spirit | Edith Margaret Clarkson (b. 1915) | Richard Redhead (1820-1901) | 8.7.8.7 | LAUS DEO (REDHEAD No. 46) | G Major or modal | English | 2005 | |||||||||
| Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #525 | For your gift of God the Spirit | For Your Gift of God the Spirit | Margaret Clarkson | Darwin Jordan; Marcus Hong | 8.7.8.7 D | Genesis 1:2; Romans 8:27; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 | FOR YOUR GIFT | D Major | 2013 | ||||||||
| Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #416 | For your gift of God the Spirit | For Your Gift of God the Spirit | Margaret Clarkson | William P. Rowlands | 8.7.8.7 D | Romans 8:26; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4; Romans 8; 1 Thessalonians 5 | BLAENWERN | F Major | English | 1987 | |||||||
| Rejoice in the Lord #382 | For your gift of God the Spirit | For Your Gift of God the Spirit | Margaret Clarkson | Henry Smart | 8.7.8.7 D | John 14:20; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 2 Timothy 3:16 | BETHANY | E Flat Major | English | 1985 | |||||||
| The Worshiping Church #285 | For your gift of God the Spirit | For Your Gift of God the Spirit | Margaret Clarkson | William P. Rowlands | 8.7.8.7 D | Romans 8:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30; John 16:8; Genesis 1:2 | BLAENWERN | G Major | English | 1990 | |||||||
| Trinity Hymnal #339 | For your gift of God the Spirit | For Your Gift of God the Spirit | Margaret Clarkson | William P. Rowlands | 8.7.8.7 D | Ephesians 1:12-14; Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 5:18 | BLAENWERN | F Major | English | 1990 |
