First time ever - Part 2

Yesterday the choir at St. Andrew's sang a setting of the Swedish hymn "Children of the Heavenly Father" and I thought I'd tell you about the "first time ever." I first remember hearing this hymn about 35 years ago when our District Superintendent, Neil Hightower, came for a Sunday to worship with us in Sarnia. He must have brought the music with him as I don't recall it being in the hymnal we would have been using at the time. I also don't remember who accompanied him - my sister or me. Those details didn't stay with me, but the hymn itself certainly did. It is such a lovely, simple tune which is so appropriate for the words. Here is a link to a brief video excerpt where Professor Gracia Grindal, tells a little about the life of the author, Lina Sandell.

Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

Lo, their very hairs He numbers,
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.