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SDA Hymnal 556

As Saints of Old

Words: Frank von ChristiersonMusic: Leland B. SaterenTune: [unclear][unclear]

Studio

1As saints of old their first fruits brought
Of orchard, flock, and field
To God, the giver of all good,
The source of bounteous yield;
So we today first-fruits would bring,
The wealth of this good land,
Of farm and market, shop and home,
Of mind, and heart, and hand.

2A world in need now summons us
To labor, love, and give;
To make our life an offering
To God, that all may live;
The Church of Christ is calling us
To make the dream come true:
A world redeemed by Christ-like love;
All life in Christ made new.

3In gratitude and humble trust
We bring our best today
To serve Your cause and share Your love
With all along life's way.
O God, who gave Yourself to us
In Jesus Christ Your Son,
Teach us to give ourselves each day
Until life's work is done.

Tune
[unclear]
Meter
[unclear]

1961, Ren. 1989 The Hymn Society

The verse

Meter
8.6.8.6.8.6.8.6
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 69% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABCBDEFE
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

As saints of old their first fruits brought˘/˘/˘///8A
Of orchard, flock, and field˘/˘/˘/6B
To God, the giver of all good,˘/˘/˘˘//8C
The source of bounteous yield;˘/˘??/6B
So we today first-fruits would bring,˘˘˘/??˘/8D
The wealth of this good land,˘/˘˘//6E
Of farm and market, shop and home,˘/˘/˘/˘/8F
Of mind, and heart, and hand.˘/˘/˘/6E

Verse 2

A world in need now summons us˘/˘///˘˘8A
To labor, love, and give;˘/˘/˘/6B
To make our life an offering˘//˘/˘/˘˘9C
To God, that all may live;˘/˘/˘/6D
The Church of Christ is calling us˘/˘/˘/˘˘8A
To make the dream come true:˘/˘///6E
A world redeemed by Christ-like love;˘/˘/˘??/8F
All life in Christ made new.//˘///6E

Verse 3

In gratitude and humble trust˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
We bring our best today˘//˘/˘/7B
To serve Your cause and share Your love˘/˘/˘/˘/8C
With all along life's way.˘/˘///6B
O God, who gave Yourself to us˘/˘/˘/˘˘8D
In Jesus Christ Your Son,˘/˘/˘/6E
Teach us to give ourselves each day/˘˘/˘˘///9B
Until life's work is done.˘///˘/6E

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.