Mission Hymns

Number One

From Greenland’s icy mountains,

From India’s coral strand,

Where Afric’s sunny fountains

Roll down their golden sand,

From many an ancient river,

From many a palmy plain,

They call us to deliver

Their land from error’s chain.

Can we, whose souls are lighted

With wisdom from on high,

Can we to men benighted

The lamp of life deny?

Salvation, O salvation!

The joyful sound proclaim,

Till each remotest nation

Has learnt Messiah’s name.

Waft, waft, ye winds, his story,

And you, ye waters, roll,

Till, like a sea of glory,

It spreads from pole to pole;

Till over our ransomed nature

The lamb for sinners slain,

Redeemer, King, Creator,

In bliss returns to reign.

Reginald Heber, 1819

1943 Episcopal Hymnal, 254.

Number Two

Awake, thou Spirit of the watchmen,

Who never held their peace by day or night,

Contending from the walls of Sion

Against the foe, confiding in they might.

Throughout the world their cry is ringing still,

And brining peoples to thy holy will.

O Lord, now let thy fire enkindle

Our heart, that everywhere its flame may go,

And spread the glory of redemption

Till all the world they saving grace shall know

At harvest, Lord, look down on us and view

How white the fields; the laborers, how few!

The prayer thy Son himself hath taught us

The offer now to thee at his command;

Behold and hearken, Lord; thy children

Implore thee for the souls of every land;

With yearning hearts they make their ardent plea;

O Hear us, Lord, and say “Thus shall it be.”

Send forth, O Lord, thy strong Evangel

By many messengers, all hearts to win;

Make hast to help us in our weakness;

Break down the realm of Satan, death, and sin.

The circle of the earth shall then proclaim

They kingdom, and the glory of thy Name.  Amen

K.H. Bogatzky, 1749

1943 Episcopal Hymnal, 255