Give Thanks for Life

Full Text

1 Give thanks for life, the measure of our days;
mortal, we pass through beauty that decays,
yet sing to God our hope, our love, our praise,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

2 Give thanks for those who made their life a light
caught from the Christ-flame,bursting through the night,
who touched the truth, who burned for what is right,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 And for our own, our living and our dead,
thanks for the love by which our life is fed,
a love not changed by time or death or dread,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Author: Shirley Erena Murray

Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931) is a hymn text writer, born in Invercargill, New Zealand in 1931. Her texts have appeared in more than 100 collections worldwide and have been translated into several languages. She has been an editor with the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust and received international acclaim for her writing, including being made a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music (2006) and becoming a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (2001) for services to the community through hymn writing. She is the first citizen to be so honored. Most recently, she has been honored by the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada at its July 2009 annual conference by being named a Fellow of the Society in recognition of her contributions as a hymn… Go to person page >

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Related Texts

First Line:	Give thanks for life, the measure of our days
Title:	Give Thanks for Life
Author:	Shirley Erena Murray (1987)
Meter:	10.10.10.4.4
Language:	English
Copyright:	Copyright © 1987 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Tune

SINE NOMINE

Ralph Vaughan Williams (PHH 316) composed SINE NOMINE for this text and published it in the English Hymnal in 1906. Vaughan Williams wrote two harmonizations¬–one for unison stanzas and one for choral stanzas. The tune's title means "without name" and follows the Renaissance tradition of naming c…

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SARUM

ROBINSON

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Timeline

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Arrangements

Piano/Organ Prayludes for Autumn (Flexible Piano Medleys for Thanksgiving, Missions, Stewardship, and General Use) I Am Thine, O Lord (Hymns of Faith and Commitment for Organ) Preludes of Praise and Adoration (Inspiring Hymn Settings for Piano) More Piano/Organ >
Choral For All the Saints - (Choral Score) More Choral >
Instrumental Five Hymn Accompaniments for Brass Quartet and Organ, Set 3 Festival Hymns for Organ, Brass, and Timpani—Set 5 SIXTY-ONE TROMBONE HYMNS AND COUNTERMELODIES, VOL. I - Instrumental Book More Instrumental >
Handbells SINE NOMINE Times and Seasons - Organ/Handbell Score Faith of the Saints More Handbells >

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Media

Scores
Audio

Worship and Rejoice #518

Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF, SIB, Scorch, XML)
Bulletin Score (PDF, SIB, Scorch, XML)
Full Score (PDF, SIB, Scorch, XML)

MIDI file from Worship and Rejoice #518

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Instances

Instances (7)	First Line	Text Title	Authors	Composers	Meter	Scripture	Tune Title	Tune Key	Languages	Publication Date
Chalice Hymnal #649	Give thanks for life, the measure of our days	Give Thanks for Life	Shirley Erena Murray	Ralph Vaughan Williams	10.10.10 with alleluia		SINE NOMINE	G Major or modal	English	1995
Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition #736	Give thanks for life, the measure of our days		Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931)	Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)	10.10.10 wiht alleluias		SINE NOMINE	G Major or modal	English	2005
Presbyterian Hymnal #528	Give thanks for life, the measure of our days	Give Thanks for Life	Shirley Erena Murray	Sir Joseph Barnby	10.10.10.4.4		SARUM	D Major	English	1990
The New Century Hymnal #297	Give thanks for life, the measure of our days	Give Thanks for Life	Shirley Erena Murray	Nancy M. René	10.10.10 with alleluias	1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 1:15-16; Romans 16:1-16	ROBINSON	G Major		1995
Voices United: The Hymn and Worship Book of The United Church of Canada #706	Give thanks for life, the measure of our days	Give Thanks for Life	Shirley Erena Murray	Ralph Vaughan Williams	10.10.10 with refrain		SINE NOMINE	G Major or modal	English	1996
Wonder, Love, and Praise: a supplement to the Hymnal 1982 #775	Give thanks for life, the measure of our days	Give thanks for life	Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931)	Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)	10.10.10 with alleluias	Matthew 5:14-16; John 12:24	SINE NOMINE	G Major or modal	English	1997
Worship and Rejoice #518	Give thanks for life, the measure of our days	Give Thanks for Life	Shirley Erena Murray, 1931-	Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958	10.10.10 with refrain	Ephesians 5:8; Matthew 5:14; James 4:14; Psalm 49:14; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Matthew 3:11; Hebrews 10:23; Acts 13:47; Proverbs 31:30; Hebrews 6:19; John 12:24; 1 John 3:3; Psalm 90:12; Colossians 1:27; Luke 3:16; 1 Peter 3:3; Psalm 71	SINE NOMINE	G Major or modal		2001