1930–2025

Introduction

Born: Au­gust 18, 1930, West Say­ville, New York.

Died: Au­gust 5, 2025, To­ron­to, Ca­na­da.

Biography

Calvin was the son of Les­ter Ben­jamin Seer­veld and Le­ti­tia Eliz­abeth van Tie­len, and husband of Ines Cecile Nau­din-Ten-Cate (married 1956).

He at­tend­ed Cal­vin Col­lege, Grand Ra­pids, Mi­chi­gan; the Uni­vers­ity of Mi­chi­gan; Vrije Uni­vers­iteit Am­ster­dam, (PhD); Ba­sel Uni­vers­ity, Swit­zer­land; the Uni­vers­ity of Rome, It­aly; and the Uni­vers­ity of Hei­del­berg, Ger­ma­ny.

Seerveld taught at Bell­hav­en Col­lege, Jack­son, Mis­sis­sip­pi (1958–59) and Tri­ni­ty Christ­ian Col­lege, Pa­los Heights, Il­li­nois (1959–72). He was Pro­fes­sor of Aes­the­tics at the In­sti­tute for Christ­ian Stu­dies in To­ron­to, Ca­na­da, from 1972 un­til re­tir­ing in 1995.

He served on the Re­vi­sion Com­mit­tee for the Christ­ian Re­formed Church’s 1987 Psal­ter Hym­nal.

Works

Lyrics

  1. Babylon Streams Re­ceive Our Tears
  2. Be Just in Judg­ment, Fair to All
  3. Blest Are the Con­trite Hearts
  4. Day Is Com­ing—God Has Pro­mised, The
  5. Do Not Be Si­lent, Lord God
  6. Give Ear, O Earth, At­tend My Songs
  7. Give Glo­ry to God, All You Hea­ven­ly Crea­tures
  8. God of Ja­cob, Please Re­mem­ber
  9. God’s Gift It Is to Eat and Drink
  10. Hallelu the Lord Our God!
  11. Hear Us, O Peo­ple, Hear Our Plea
  12. Holy Spir­it, Migh­ty God
  13. How Blest Are All the Peo­ple
  14. I Was Glad They Came to Call Me
  15. I Wor­ship You, O Lord
  16. If God Does Not Build Up the House
  17. If God the Lord Were Not Our Con­stant Help
  18. In the Fish for Three Days Bur­ied
  19. Jesus Lives, and So Do We
  20. Little Beth­le­hem of Ju­dah
  21. Lord God of Is­ra­el, Come Among Us
  22. Lord Is Say­ing, I Will Make All Things New, The
  23. Lord, My Heart Is Hum­bled Now
  24. Lord, You Have Searched My Life and Know
  25. Mighty Deeds the Lord Has Done, The
  26. My God! O My God! Have You Left Me Alone?
  27. Now the So­lemn Feast Is Done
  28. O Christ! Come Back to Save Your Folk
  29. O Christ, Our Lord, Dear Son of God
  30. Once I Said, I Must Keep Qui­et
  31. Our Lives Are Filled with Sor­rows
  32. Praised Be the Fa­ther
  33. Savior of the Na­tions, Come
  34. Trumpet the Name! Praise Be to Our Lord!
  35. We Know That God Works Things for Good
  36. When God Brought Zi­on’s Rem­nant Band
  37. Whoever Shel­ters with the Lord
  38. Why, Lord, Must Ev­il Seem to Get Its Way?
  39. You Serv­ants of the Lord Our God

Sources