Here at the end of November, our hearts turn to the coming Thanksgiving holiday, as do many of the hymns in this morning’s service. We begin worship with O Come Before The Lord, Our King—Psalm 95, which reminds us of the Lord’s provision for our needs (“He feeds our souls in pastures broad”) and calls us to enter His presence “with thankful songs.” Let All Things Now Living asks all of creation to raise songs of adoration and thanks to the Creator, while For The Beauty Of The Earthsuggests that seeing God’s handiwork in the natural world should inspire “hymn[s] of grateful praise.” My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness calls us to be thankful for every day “given by the King,” and To Our Redeemer’s Glorious Name responds to Jesus with delight, wonder, love, and gratitude. The service closes with God Of Our Fathers, in which we declare that our “grateful songs” will ever rise before His throne. I hope these hymns encourage our hearts to give thanks to the God who, though our way may be toilsome, is faithful to lead us from night to never-ending day.
—Henry C. Haffner