Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10
Words: Edward A. Dayman, 1867, alt.
Music: O heilige Dreifaltigkeit Nikolaus Hermann, Die Sontags euangelica uber das gantze Jar (Wittenberg, Germany: 1560) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Dayman (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Almighty Father, Heav’n and earth
With lavish wealth before Thee bow;
Those treasures owe to Thee their birth,
Creator, Ruler, Giver, Thou.
The wealth of earth, of sky, of sea,
The gold, the silver, sparkling gem,
The waving corn, the bending tree,
Are Thine; to us Thou lendest them.
To Thee, as early morning’s dew,
Our praises, alms, and prayers shall rise
As rose, when joyous earth was new,
Faith’s patriarchal sacrifice.
We, Lord, would lay at Thy behest
The costliest offerings on Thy shrine;
But when we give, and give our best,
We give Thee only what is Thine.
O Father, whence all blessings come;
O Son, dispenser of God’s store;
O Spirit, bear our offerings home:
Lord, make them Thine forevermore.