The United Methodist Hymnal

545

The Church's One Foundation

1.	The church's one foundation 
	is Jesus Christ her Lord; 
	she is his new creation 
	by water and the Word. 
	From heaven he came and sought her 
	to be his holy bride; 
	with his own blood he bought her, 
	and for her life he died.

2.	Elect from every nation, 
	yet one o'er all the earth; 
	her charter of salvation, 
	one Lord, one faith, one birth; 
	one holy name she blesses, 
	partakes one holy food, 
	and to one hope she presses, 
	with every grace endued.

3.	Though with a scornful wonder 
	we see her sore oppressed, 
	by schisms rent asunder, 
	by heresies distressed, 
	yet saints their watch are keeping; 
	their cry goes up, "How long?" 
	And soon the night of weeping 
	shall be the morn of song.

4.	Mid toil and tribulation, 
	and tumult of her war, 
	she waits the consummation 
	of peace forevermore; 
	till, with the vision glorious, 
	her longing eyes are blest, 
	and the great church victorious 
	shall be the church at rest.

5.	Yet she on earth hath union 
	with God the Three in One, 
	and mystic sweet communion 
	with those whose rest is won. 
	O happy ones and holy! 
	Lord, give us grace that we 
	like them, the meek and lowly, 
	on high may dwell with thee.

WORDS: Samuel J. Stone, 1866
MUSIC: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864
Theme: Christian Year: All Saints Day; Church: Anniversaries; Church: Anniversaries; Church: Community in Christ; Church: Dedication of a Building; Funerals and Memorial Services; Jesus Christ: Blood; Processionals; The Nature of the Church: United in Christ