For the Beauty of the Earth

This past Sunday was Youth Sunday at Community Presbyterian Church.  Youth shared their experiences on the Mission trip to West Virginia.  Two youth sang the hymn For the Beauty of the Earth.  It was beautiful.  It was powerful.  It was an invitation.  Summer is a perfect time  for us all to open our eyes and ears and appreciate the beauty of the earth.

For the beauty of the earth, 
for the glory of the skies, 
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies. 

Refrain: 
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise. 

For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night, 
hill and vale and tree and flower, 
sun and moon and stars of light, [Refrain ]
 

For the joy of human love, 
brother, sister, parent, child, 
friends on earth, and friends above, 
for all gentle thoughts and mild, [Refrain] 

For yourself, best gift divine, 
to the world so freely given, 
agent of God's grand design: 
peace on earth and joy in heaven. [Refrain]

Text: Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835–1917

Music: Conrad Kocher, 1786–1872