God Is Calling the Prodigal
Invitation songs have gone out of fashion in many assemblies, and there is no mistaking this as anything but an invitation song. Only a few changes are needed to "contemporize" this song. Note that the original lyrics themselves are inconsistent in usage of "thee" and "you."
Original lyrics.
God is calling the prodigan: come without delay;
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for THEE;
Tho' YOU'VE wandered so far from His prescence, come today;
Hear His loving voice calling still.
Calling now for THEE,
O weary prodigal come;
Calling now for THEE,
O weary prodigal come.
Patient, loving and tenderly still the Father pleads;
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for THEE;
O return while the Spirit in mercy intercedes;
Hear His loving voice calling still.
Come, there's bread in the house of THY Father, and to spare;
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for THEE;
Lo! The table is spread and the feast is waiting there;
Hear His loving voice calling still.
Lyrics by Charles H. Gabriel, 1889.
Comments and Suggestions:
The alternative chorus lyric employs an active verb form (instead of a passive use of the participle) and clarifies that the "call" spoken of by the lyric is from GOD, not just from the congregation.
Renewal lyrics.
God is calling the prodigal: come without delay;
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for YOU;
Tho' you've wandered so far from His prescence, come today;
Hear His loving voice calling still.
Calling now for YOU, [or GOD IS CALLING YOU]
O weary prodigal come;
Calling now for YOU, [or GOD IS CALLING YOU]
O weary prodigal come.
Patient, loving and tenderly still the Father pleads;
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for YOU;
O return while the Spirit in mercy intercedes;
Hear His loving voice calling still.
Come, there's bread in the house of YOUR Father, and to spare;
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for YOU;
LOOK! The table is spread and the feast is waiting there;
Hear His loving voice calling still.
Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014