431
O Lord, You Gave Your Servant John
1. O Lord, You gave Your servant John
A vision of the world to come:
A radiant city filled with light,
Where You with us will make Your home;
Where neither grief nor pain shall dwell,
Since former things have passed away,
And where they need no sun nor moon;
Your glory lights eternal day.
2. Our cities, Lord, wear shrouds of pain;
Beneath our gleaming towers of wealth
The homeless crouch in rain and snow,
The poor cry out for strength and health.
Youth's hope is dimmed by ignorance;
Unwilling, workers idled stand;
Indifference walks unheeding by
As hunger stretches out its hand.
3. Come, Lord, make real John's vision fair;
Come, dwell with us, make all things new;
We try in vain to save our world
Unless our help shall come from You.
Come, strengthen us to live in love;
Bid hatred, greed, injustice cease.
Your glory all the light we need,
Let all our cities shine forth peace.
WORDS: Joy F. Patterson, 1988
MUSIC: Irish melody Adapt. Charles Villiers Stanford, 1902
Scripture: Revelation 21 Revelation 22
Theme: Church