Saturday, May 18, 2024  

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Today's Hymn
“For the Beauty of the Earth”

For thyself, best gift divine,
to the world so freely given;
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

by Folliott Sanford Pierpont
Hymn 14, Glory to God
verse 5

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Reflection

The whole of this hymn invites us to marvel in the sheer wonder of God’s world. The first four verses loosely follow the order of creation, marveling at what God has called into being: earth and sky; trees and flowers; sun, moon, and stars; and then the humans who are our families and friends and fellow travelers through the journey of life. Through it all, the refrain — “Lord of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise” — underlines the Creator’s goodness in bringing us the wonder of creation.

And in this fifth verse is the culmination of the creation story. God loved us so much — and so freely — that not only did God create this amazing world for us to inhabit, God also gave God’s self for us. And that gift, God’s sacrifice, frees us up to wonder anew at the world around us. The sun, the moon, the stars, the trees, and flowers — all are tangible reminders of God’s love for us. Let us rejoice!

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Prayer
Holy God, we give you our praise for all the amazing gifts you have given us. Help us to look beyond ourselves to see all the everyday wonders that point us in the direction of your most precious gift, the gift of yourself. In your holy name. Amen.

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Written by Lisa Stracks, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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