For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind's delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight,
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
This our sacrifice of 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 Lord, to you we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For your Church that evermore
Lift its holy hands above,
Off'ring up on ev'ry shore
Its pure sacrifice of love:
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For yourself, best Gift Divine!
To this world so freely giv'n;
Word Incarnate, God's design,
Peace on earth and joy in heav'n:
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

MIDI sequence copyright © 1999 Brian M. Ames.