All Who Would See God's Greatness

Christmas

Words: Marnie Barrell, copyright 1995
Many other Marie Barrell hymns can be found at Oremus
Both links open a new window at Oremus.org

Music: Obeisance by Ian Render, copyright circa 1996
With Alternative Arrangement by Jillian Bray, copyright circa 1996
Ashburton by Colin Gibson, copyright circa 1996
Meter: 76 87 88

1. All who would see God's greatness,
draw near, bend down, look low:
see how love appears among us
as small as a child. Then go,
tell of the greatness made so small,
tiny and hidden, God of all.

2. If you would share God's riches,
draw near, reach out and touch:
God has only love to offer,
enough for us, and too much.
Take up God's treasure, made so poor,
naked the God that we adore.

3. Would you receive God's power?
Draw near, find strength in this:
laid open to all our violence
is love that will not resist.
This is our God, who chose to be
tied with our bonds to set us free.

4. Stand in the holy silence
while earth with heaven sings
that here in our hands for holding
is love that sustains all things.
Strange is this love that draws us near:
Glory of God, among us here.

This hymn is reproduced here by the generous permission of the author, Marnie Barrell.  According to the author, you are welcome to use it, unaltered, and with proper acknowledgement.  If you wish to reproduce it further, please apply for permission by sending her an email.

Ms. Barrell is also the author of numerous other hymns. Steve Benner at Oremus has a great list. Her Christmas-tide hymns and carols on this site include:

• Come Now Where We Least Expect You (Advent)
• All Who Would See God's Greatness (Christmas)
• Praise to God, Whose Holy Spirit (The Holy Family)
• Who Are These Who Ride By Starlight (Epiphany)
• Hail Mary, Full of Grace! (A Hymn To Mary; The Annunciation)

Four of her Christmas hymns are published in the New Zealand hymnbook, Carol Our Christmas -- A Book of New Zealand Carols (The New Zealand Hymnbook Trust Inc,  PO Box 2011, Raumati Beach,  New Zealand,  1996; ISBN: 1869340582). It is published by the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, and also available through the Hymn Society of America. The book Carol Our Christmas is also available at OC Books and New Zealand Books. Also available are Alleluia Aotearoa: Hymns and Songs For All Churches (1993) and Faith Forever Singing (2000), both of which contain additional hymns by Marnie Barrell. "Aotearoa" is the Maori term which means "land of the long white cloud," which is now known as New Zealand.

 

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