Worship Supplement ‎#776

776. The Voice of God Is Calling

1 The voice of God is calling
Its summons unto men;
As once he spake in Zion,
So now he speaks again:
Whom shall I send to comfort
My people in their need?
Whom shall I send to loosen
The bonds of shame and greed?

2 I hear my people crying
In cot and mine and slum;
No field or mart is silent,
No city street is dumb.
I see my people falling
In darkness and despair.
Whom shall I send to shatter
The fetters which they bear?

3 We heed, O Lord, thy summons
And answer: Here are we!
Send us upon thine errand!
Let us thy servants be!
Our strength is dust and ashes,
Our years a passing hour;
But thou canst use our weakness
To magnify thy power.

4 From ease and plenty save us,
From pride of place absolve;
Purge us of low desire,
Lift us to high resolve.
Teach us and make us holy,
Teach us thy will and way;
Speak, and, behold we answer!
Command, and we obey!

5 Great God of earth and heaven,
To thee our songs we raise;
To thee be glory given
And everlasting praise:
We joyfully confess thee,
Eternal Triune God;
We magnify, we bless thee,
And spread thy praise abroad. Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: The voice of God is calling
• Title: The Voice of God Is Calling
• Author: John Haynes Holmes, 1879-1964
• Meter: 7. 6. 7. 6. D
• Publication Date: 1969
• Topic: The Church: Social Concern
• Copyright: © 1960 Beacon Press, from "The Collected Hymns of John Holmes"
• Notes: Now Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: CORMAC
• Key: C Major
• Source: Traditional Irish tune