1
When Christ was lifted from the earth His arms stretched out above
Through every culture, every birth, to draw an answering love.
2
Still east and west His love extends and always, near or far,
He calls and claims us as His friends and loves us as we are.
3
Where generation, class, or race divides us to our shame,
He sees not labels but a face, a person and a name.
4
Thus freely loved, tho’ fully known, may I in Christ be free
To welcome and accept His own as Christ accepted me.
1
What joy it is to worship here,
And find ourselves at home,
Where God, who uses every gift,
Has room for all who come!
2
Yet are no two of us alike
Of all the human race,
And we must seek a common ground
If we would share His grace.
1
In Christ there is no east nor west,
In Him no south or north;
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.
2
In Him shall true heart everywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord
Close binding all mankind.
3
Join hands, then, brothers of the faith,
Whate’er your race may be.
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me.
4
In Christ now meet both east and west,
In Him meet south and north;
All Christly souls are one in Him
Throughout the whole wide earth.
1
Lord of all nations, grant me grace
To love all people, every race,
And in each person may I see
My kindred loved, redeemed by Thee.
2
Break down the wall that would divide
Thy children, Lord, on every side.
My neighbor’s good let me pursue;
Let Christian love bind warm and true.
3
Forgive me, Lord, where I have erred
By loveless act and thoughtless word.
Make me to see the wrong I do
Will crucify my Lord anew.
4
Give me Thy courage, Lord, to speak
Whenever strong oppress the weak.
Should I myself the victim be,
Help me forgive, remembering Thee.
5
With Thine own love may I be filled
And by Thy Holy Spirit willed,
That all I touch, where’er I be,
May be divinely touched by Thee.
1
Holy Spirit, gracious guest,
Hear and grant our heart’s request
For that gift supreme and best:
Holy heav’nly love.
2
Faith that mountains could remove,
Tongues of earth or heaven above,
Knowledge, all things, empty prove
If I have no love.
3
Though I as a martyr bleed,
Give my goods the poor to feed,
All is vain if love I need:
Therefore give me love.
4
Love is kind and suffers long,
Love is pure and thinks no wrong,
Love than death it self more strong:
Therefore give us love.
5
Prophecy will fade away,
Melting in the light of day;
Love will ever with us stay:
Therefore give us love.
6
Faith and hope and love we see
Joining hand in hand agree-
But the greatest of the three,
And the best is love.