For the people of Trinity United Methodist Church, Richmond, Virginia
UM Hymnal #188. Tune: Gift of Love. Meter: LM
Occasional verse
Two hundred twenty years of grace
You’ve given this community,
Two hundred twenty years of praise
To God, O holy Trinity!
Standard verses
Your Church, Almighty God, we are,
Upon the rock of faith we stand,
We are your people, near and far,
Who hear and do what you command.
We are your people, called to praise
the God who made the earth and sun,
Who counts the number of our days—
the Father, Holy Spirit, Son.
A royal priesthood, not a place,
A holy nation, not a race,
We all have known amazing grace,
And turn our eyes to Jesus’ face.
We are your body, not our own,
We live together, not alone,
For sinners, saints and martyrs home,
Built for your praise, of living stone.
We are a people who complete
The Savior’s mission as we serve
Our neighbors who live down the street
Or past the far horizon’s curve.
Your love, O God, makes of us one,
Despite our vast diversity,
Like Father, Holy Spirit, Son,
Three Persons, yet one Trinity.
[Children’s Verse]
Your altars, Loving Trinity,
where little sparrows nest their young—
there we will always long to be,
for it’s to you that we belong!
SEASONS OF THE CHURCH YEAR
Advent
Called out of darkness into light,
Called out of loss to priceless gain,
Awaiting dawn in dark of night,
We find your joy still shines through pain.
Christmas (for children)
Not like the inn that had no room,
But like the manger, soft and warm—
we make a space for Christ newborn,
to keep the Baby safe from harm.
Epiphany
Arise and shine! The light has come!
From every land the Wise arrive
To worship Christ, your only Son,
And in abundant life to thrive.
Lent
Return to Me, thus says the Lord,
with fasting, grief, and honest tears,
O rend your hearts, let go your swords,
And I’ll restore the wasted years.
Easter
We give you thanks, we sing your praise—
Your mercies last through all our days,
You sent the Christ the world to save,
You raise us up from our dark grave.
Pentecost…Ps 126
We are the workers in your field—
May us your Spirit now employ:
Who go forth weeping, bearing seed,
Will bring the harvest home with joy.
Copyright © 2010 by John Hamilton
