"For all the Saints" -- Mike's Hymn o' the Week (Friday, July 13, 2007)

In an effort to encourage my small sphere of influence on the Interweb to sing more hymns, I am going to begin posting a favorite hymn of the week on Fridays-ish every week. Many will likely have come to me via the Indelible Grace project, which I encourage all of you to check out. They release CDs full of hymns set to modern music (though generally very strongly influenced by the familiar tune known to people familiar with the literature of hymns). This week's hymn is the title track off their third CD, "For All the Saints," as performed by Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay. I include all the verses of the original hymn, a subset of which are sung on the album. They are denoted by an asterisk (*), in case you are interested.

The verse beginning with "But lo there breaks..." does not fail to put a smile on my face and a tear in my eye as I think toward the glorious future hope that the saints of God hold. Enjoy, and may your spirit be renewed by How's lovely words.

For all the Saints
By: William W. How

*For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

*Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

*O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

*The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

*But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!