Author: Erik Routley Hymnal: Moravian Book of Worship #656 (1995) Meter: Irregular First Line: The earth is the Lord's and its fulness Lyrics: 1 The earth is the Lord's and its fulness,
its mystery, splendor and wealth,
its bounty, fertility, kindness,
its beauty, its reason, its health;
then who is this wise-hearted steward
who faithfully carries this trust?
The generous, gentle, obedient,
the patient, the honest, the just.
2 The earth is the Lord's own possession,
not the tithe, nor the half, but the whole:
he made it, sustains it, and leads it
in love to its heavenly goal;
but the harmony of the creation
is broken by self-hood and vice
when the anxious, incompetent steward
in fear keeps back part of the price.
3 The church is the Lord's, and its people
the Body of Christ, who impart
the word and the feast and the friendship,
(his head and his hands and his heart!)
Where sisters and brothers together
in laughter and worship and prayer
give all to each other, then heaven
is present on earth with them there.
4 All life is the Lord's, who in giving
his Son, gave him glory again -
for he who surrendered his spirit
is he who ascended to reign;
the talent when buried
was withered, the manna, when hoarded, decayed,
but Love meets us in resurrection
when love gives itself unafraid.
Topics: Stewardship and Service; Church--Foundation and nature; Stewardship Scripture: Psalm 24:1-2 Languages: English Tune Title: MOUNT MORRIS, NEW
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