God of Grace and God of Glory

This hymn was written by Harry Emerson Fosdick, the pastor of Riverside Church, near Harlem.  Fosdick sought to promote an interdenominational, interracial fellowship of Christians and was a champion of what would now be called the social aspects of the gospel (keep in mind the country was in the midst of the Great Depression).  Ironically, both Fosdick and the Riverside church were sponsored by John D. Rockefeller, and the hymn was written for the opening service at the new church in 1930.  It is a great anthem and petition for believers, especially when teamed with the great CWM RHONDDA tune.  The poetic language of the '30s nonetheless still benefits from some updates.

Original lyrics:

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
  [Fears and doubts too long have bound us,]
Free our hearts to faith [work] and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee whom we adore,
Serving Thee whom we adore.

Original lyrics:  Harry E. Fosdick, 1930 

Comments and Suggestions:

As often the case, the trickiest aspect of hymn renewal is dealing with use of THEE/THY/THINE when it is an integral part of the rhyme scheme, as is the case here in verse 4.  The problem is obviated if this verse is omitted, as is often the case in some hymnals.  Alternatives are THAT THE NEEDY WE MAY SEE; FAILING NOT YOUR LOVE/GRACE TO SEE, etc.

Renewal lyrics:

God of grace and God of glory,
On YOUR people pour YOUR power.
Crown YOUR ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn YOUR Christ, ATTACK His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
  [Fears and doubts too long have bound us,]
Free our hearts to faith [work] and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure YOUR children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to YOUR control.
Shame our SINFUL selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss YOUR kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss YOUR kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
BLESS our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
SO TO SAVE ALL THOSE WE SEE,
SO TO SAVE ALL THOSE WE SEE.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for YOUR salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving YOU whom we adore,
Serving YOU whom we adore.

Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2015