.....which I cried through the last half of, like the big old doofus I am:
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!
Refrain
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
Refrain
Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.
Refrain
Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.
Refrain
And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
Refrain
And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.
Refrain
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
Refrain
Sung to the tune Lasst Uns Erfreuen. Go to Cyberhymnal to hear the tune if you need to. Then I dare you to really sing it all the way through without a tear coming to your eye.
St. Francis, ora pro nobis.
And I thought I was just being sentimental :)
(since we chose that as our hymn selection for our wedding...I'm not sure why. But I'm glad we did.) We were married in a relatively conservative Lutheran church (in our pre-conversion days) that wouldn't allow any secular music. Praise the Lord. Some young people need to be protected from their well-meaning but poor instincts...
May I PLLLEEEEEEASE come join your church and sing in your choir? Or heck, just singing in the congregation would be enough for me. Where are you, Texas? I'm SO moving.