Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I’m visiting my family in Pennsylvania this week, so I scheduled this week’s meet-up to go out automatically. I love to reflect on little-known Thanksgiving hymns during this month of gratitude. This year, I discovered a hymn written in the 19th century by a Methodist lay-person named E.R. Latta. The hymn is titled “Thanksgiving Hymn.”
Refrain: Lord, accept our adoration, and the thanks our spirits feel!
Grant to us Thy full salvation, unto us Thyself reveal.
Now an off’ring of thanksgiving, gracious Lord we bring to Thee.
On Thy bounty we are living, King of heav’n and earth and sea. (refrain)
At the gentle Spring’s awaking, when the captive earth was freed,
Not in vain, the fallow-breaking and the sowing of the seed! (refrain)
Timely rains, to earth descending, on the needy grass and grain,
With the genial sunshine blending, clothed with plenty, vale and plain! (refrain)
For the harvest that we gather, not alone our lips should praise;
We should love our heav’nly Father, and should serve Him, all our days! (refrain)
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,
Pastor Aaron