"FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH, FOR THE GLORY OF THE SKIES...."

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"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory."

 Isaiah 6:3

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The writer of this expressive hymn about the earth's beauty was Folliot S. Pierpoint, (1835-1917). This English-born professor wrote the hymn when he was twenty-nine years old; he was said to have been mesmerized by the beautiful surroundings of his English countryside. Though he published seven volumes of poetry, "For the Beauty of the Earth" is his most-remembered hymn.

Pierpoint was a graduate of Queens College, Cambridge University, and taught at various places much of his life until he left teaching and became a writer. Much of his writing was about nature, which he loved.

The hymn is most often used in church services with the tune "Dix," though another beautiful tune by John Rutter is very special and it’s  the one we have selected here for your listening. This hymn is used often at Thanksgiving services; it was sung in the 1994 Columbia Pictures movie, "Little Women."

Pierpoint's simple and heartfelt words are given here:

"For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies.

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies;

Christ our God to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon, and stars of light;

Christ our God to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

For all gentle thoughts and mild;

Christ our God to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise

For Thy church that evermore

Lifteth holy hands above,

Offering up on every shore

Her pure sacrifice of love;

Christ our God to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

Amen.

Two very fine choirs are presented below (see Access), both singing the Rutter tune. I encourage you to take time to listen to both---due to the pictures. Each selection has beautiful photos. Selection one has one of the most impressive children’s choirs you'll ever hear anywhere.

1. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHIfRLNYUGw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaMkj4_H8WM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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BY MIL

8/25/12

Sent from my iPad