SUNDAY SONG - "Thanks to God"

Our community has an ecumenical church service on Thanksgiving Day.  For me, it is always a blessing, partly because it is held in the church of my growing up years.  Mostly I like it because God's people have a chance to gather as one, as it should be.

 

 

Our pastor has asked me to sing a special number during the service, and I have been mulling over which song to do.  Tonight I think I have decided on an old one from our hymn book, "Thanks to God".  It seems Thanksgiving season is not complete without it, because years ago it was a given it would be sung by Bert's Uncle Vernor in his deep bass voice. 

 

Besides the three verses from the hymn book, he would also do a verse (or maybe more?) in Swedish.  I won't be doing any Swedish, but will think of him as I sing!  We do have so very much to be thankful for, and this song covers a lot: 

 

 

   Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and dreary fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

 

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace the none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

      

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heav'nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks thru all eternity!