Almighty Father of all things that be,
Our life, our work, we consecrate to thee,
Whose heavens declare thy glory from above,
Whose earth below is witness to thy love.

Thou dost the strength to worker's arms impart;
From thee the skilled musician's subtle art;
The grace of poet's pen or painter's hand
Portrays the loveliness of sea and land.

For well we know this weary, fallen earth
Is yet thine own by right of its new birth,
Since that great cross upreared on Calvary
And Easter's power redeemed it, Lord, for thee.

Then grant us, Lord, to spend ourselves in praise,
To serve our Saviour's purpose all our days,
To speak and think, and work and live and move,
Reflecting thine own nature, suffering love;

That so, redeemed by Christ from sin and shame,
And purified by thine own Spirit's flame,
Ourselves, our work, and all our powers may be
A sacrifice acceptable to thee.


Ernest Edward Dugmore (1843-1925) alt.