Two Hymns of Thankgiving

"The First Thanksgiving" (1914), by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe (1850-1936)

 We Gather Together

We gather together
    to ask the Lord's blessing;
    he chastens and hastens
    his will to make known.
    The wicked oppressing
    now cease from distressing.
    Sing praises to his name,
    he forgets not his own.

    Beside us to guide us,
    our God with us joining,
    ordaining, maintaining
    his kingdom divine;
    so from the beginning
    the fight we were winning;
    thou, Lord, wast at our side,
    all glory be thine!

    We all do extol thee,
    thou leader triumphant,
    and pray that thou still
    our defender wilt be.
    Let thy congregation
    escape tribulation;
    thy name be ever praised!
    O Lord, make us free!

~Nederlandtsch Gedencklanck; trans. by Theodore Baker 

"Pilgrims Going to Church" (1867), by George Henry Boughton (1833-1905)

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Come, ye thankful people, come,
    raise the song of harvest home;
    all is safely gathered in,
    ere the winter storms begin.
    God our Maker doth provide
    for our wants to be supplied;
    come to God's own temple, come,
    raise the song of harvest home.

    All the world is God's own field,
    fruit as praise to God we yield;
    wheat and tares together sown
    are to joy or sorrow grown;
    first the blade and then the ear,
    then the full corn shall appear;
    Lord of harvest, grant that we
    wholesome grain and pure may be.

    For the Lord our God shall come,
    and shall take the harvest home;
    from the field shall in that day
    all offenses purge away,
    giving angels charge at last
    in the fire the tares to cast;
    but the fruitful ears to store
    in the garner evermore.

    Even so, Lord, quickly come,
    bring thy final harvest home;
    gather thou thy people in,
    free from sorrow, free from sin,
    there, forever purified,
    in thy presence to abide;
    come, with all thine angels, come,
    raise the glorious harvest home.

~Henry Alford, 1810-1871 

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving! 

~Tammi