O Father, All Creating
Words: von Pfeil, Christoph Karl Ludwig (1712-1784), tr. Winkworth, Catherine (1827-1878) | Music: from Klug's Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg, 1533
Key: DMeter: 8.8.8.8Tempo: mediumTime: 4/4
1. O Fa- ther, all cre- a- ting, Whose wis- dom, love, and pow'r First bound two lives to- ge- ther In E- den's pri- mal hour, To- day to these Thy child- ren Thy ear- liest gifts re- new: A home by Thee made hap- py, A love by Thee kept true.
 
2. O Sa- vior, Guest most bount- eous Of old in Ga- li- lee, Vouch- safe to- day Thy pre- sence With these who call on Thee; Their store of earth- ly glad- ness Trans- form to heav'n- ly wine, And teach them, in the tast- ing To know the gift is Thine.
 
3. O Spi- rit of the Fa- ther, Breathe on them from a- bove, So might- y in Thy pure- ness, So ten- der in Thy love; That, guard- ed by Thy pre- sence, From sin and strife kept free, Their lives may own Thy gui- dance, Their hearts be rul'd by Thee.
 
4. Ex- cept Thou build it, Fa- ther, The house is built in vain; Ex- cept Thou, Sa- vior, bless it, The joy will turn to pain; But naught can break the un- ion Of hearts in Thee made one, And love Thy Spi- rit hal- low'd Is end- less love be- gun.
Scripture References: Josh 24:15, Acts 16:31-34, Ps 127:1