Look at the World

This anthem of praise, I’m sure, will be unfamiliar to most. Our Chancel Choir has shared it in worship in the past. It is one of my absolute favorite pieces of music. Sir John Rutter, acclaimed English composer and conductor, penned the words and tune in 2003. I think it’d be difficult to find another “Thanksgiving” hymn that contains such poise, beauty, and praise as “Look at the World”. The lyrics are so simple; but in that simpleness there is so much deep imagery and truth. The tune (and I encourage you to look the song up on YouTube) compliments the lyrics almost magically. Those who have conversed with me by email may recognize part of the refrain: “All the gifts we share, and every blessing, all things come of Thee” is it’s included in my signature at the bottom of my emails. That lyric is also on each name card in every Chancel Choir folder. It is my prayer that you get a blessing out of it as well, as we remember and thank our great Provider of all things.

Look at the world, everything all around us.
Look at the world, and marvel every day.
Look at the world: so many joys and wonders
So many miracles along our way.

Look at the earth bringing forth fruit and flowers;
Look at the sky, the sunshine and the rain;
Look at the hills, look at the trees and mountains,
Valley and flowing river, field and plain.

Think of the spring, think of the warmth of summer
Bringing the harvest before the winter’s cold.
Everything grows, everything has a season,
‘Til it is gathered to the fathers fold.

Every good gift, all that we need and cherish
Comes from the Lord in token of his love;
We are his hands, stewards of all his bounty
His is the earth and his the heavens above:

Praise to thee, O Lord, for all creation,
Give us thankful hearts, that we may see:
All the gifts we share, and every blessing
All things come of thee.

Prayer

God of Creation, we praise You. Thank You for all the things You’ve placed in this world for each of us. The little things we may overlook: sunshine, rain, fruit, and flower; the change of seasons; the harvest. We pray that You remind us that all we need and cherish comes from You. We pray for thankful hearts, and we thank You for every gift we share with each other. Help us to remember, Lord, that all things come of Thee. Amen.