Our father was a farmer – Verse 263

Our father was a farmer,
His heart was in the soil
It’s there he found his solace,
Among the grimy toil.
He planted the seed in springtime,
The spuds, the beans, the hay,
He prayed that God would bless them,
A harvest, Lord, he prayed.
He tilled and cultivated them,
Provided the most tender care,
Believed that come October,
He’d reap a harvest fair.
Blue skies were his cathedral,
A tractor, his altar of prayer,
God met him in the hayfields,
They had communion there.
Our father was a farmer
That’s all he ever was.
The values that the land taught him,
He handed down to us.
We loved our farmer father -
We’re thankful, he was ours,
We pray that God will bless him,
Today and for all time.

When God was making Mothers – Verse 264

When God was making Mothers,
He must have made a fuss
He spent a lot of time on one
And gave that one to us.
Of all the gifts in life
However great or small,
To have you as our Mother
Was the greatest gift of all.
Because you were so special
No words could ever say
How much we love and miss you
Today and every day.

Missed So Dearly – Verse 265

Missed in the morning of every day,
Missed in the evening as light fades away,
Missed in a thousand and one little ways,
Around every corner a memory stays.
 
No one knows the pain we bear,
When we all meet and you're not there.
We talk, we laugh, we play our part,
But behind it all lie broken hearts.
 
You gave us years of happiness,
Then sorrow came with tears.
You left us lovely memories,
We will treasure through the years.

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes – Verse 268

O Holy Virgin,
in the midst of your days of glory,
do not forget the sorrows
of this earth.
Cast a merciful glance upon
those who are suffering,
struggling against difficulties,
with their lips constantly pressed
against life’s bitter cup.
Have pity on those who love
each other and are separated.
Have pity on our rebellious hearts.
Have pity on our weak faith.
Have pity on those who weep,
on those who pray, on those who fear.
Grant hope and peace to all.

Prayer to St. Joseph – Verse 269

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so
great, so strong, so prompt before the throne
of God, I place in you all my interest and
desires. Oh, St Joseph, do assist me by your
powerful intercession, and obtain for me from
your divine Son all spiritual blessings,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having
engaged here below your heavenly power,
I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to
the most loving of Fathers. Oh, St. Joseph,
I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus
asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while
He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my
name and kiss His fine head for me and ask
Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying
breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls -
Pray for me.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross – Verse 258

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suff’ring and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O, the old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.

3. In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me.

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; then he’ll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory for ever I’ll share.

ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

1. Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus Going on before. Christ the royal master, Leads against the foe, Forward into battle, See, his banners go.

Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the Cross of Jesus Going on before.

2. At the Name of Jesus Satan’s host doth flee; On, then Christian soldiers, On to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver At the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise.

3. Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod :We are not divided, All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain; ‘Gainst that Church prevail; We have Christ’s own promise, And that cannot fail.

5. Onward, then ye people, Join our happy throng; Blend with ours your voices, In the triumph-song :Glory, laud and honour, Unto Christ the King; This through countless ages Men and angels sing.

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven – Verse 259

1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, To his feet thy tribute bring; Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Evermore his praises sing : Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the everlasting King!

2. Praise him for his grace and favour To our fathers in distress; Praise him, still the same as ever, Slow to chide and swift to bless :Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glorious in his faithfulness.

3. Father-like, he tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame he knows; In his hands he gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes : Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Widely as his mercy flows.14 15

4. Angels in the height adore him, Ye behold him face to face; Saints triumphant bow before him, Gathered in from every race : Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise with us the God of grace.

Praise to the Holiest in the height – Verse 260

1. Praise to the Holiest in the height, And in the depth be praise; In all his words most wonderful, Most sure in all his ways.

2. O loving wisdom of our God! When all was sin and shame, A second Adam to the fight And to the rescue came.

3. O wisest love! that flesh and blood, Which did in Adam fail, Should strive afresh against the foe, Should strive and should prevail;

4. And that a higher gift than grace Should flesh and blood refine, God’s presence, and his very self And essence all-divine.

5. .O generous love! that he who smote In Man, for man, the foe, The double agony in Man, For man, should undergo;

6. And in the garden secretly, And on the cross on high, Should teach his brethren, and inspire To suffer and to die.

7. Praise to the Holiest in the height, And in the depth be praise; In all his words most wonderful, Most sure in all his ways.

The day thou gavest, Lord – Verse 261

1. The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended The darkness falls at thy behest; To thee our morning hymns ascended, Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

Amazing Grace – Verse 246

1. Amazing grace how sweet the sound! that saved a wretch like me! I once lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
2. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved :how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
3. Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; ‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures; he will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
5. Yes, when this flesh, and heart shall fail, and motral life shall cease, I shall possess within the veil a life of joy and peace.

Abide with me – Verse 247

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me.

3. I need thy presence every passing hour; What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who like thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine. O abide with me.

4. I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless: Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is deaths’s sting where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

5 Hold thou thy Cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee: In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

The Old Rugged Cross – Verse 248

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

Chorus

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear lamb of God left hiss glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.

Chorus

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see, for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.

Chorus

4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; then he’ll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory forever I’ll share.

Chorus

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.

2. Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings He made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings :

3. The purple-headed mountain, The river running by, The sunset, and the morning That brightens up the sky :

4. The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one :

5. The tall trees in the greenwood, The meadows for our play, The rushes by the water, To gather every day ;

6. He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell How great is God almighty, Who has made all things well.