Another of my favourite hymns, Lord of All Hopefulness has a gentle, lilting tune and the four verses make up a series of prayers for each part of the day. It calls on the aspect of Christ most appropriate to the activities of morning, noon, evening and night to deliver the virtue most needed at that time.
As with the other hymns I particularly love, this has the primary requirement of being really enjoyable to sing, but with this one I also enjoy the humanising of the deity called upon – this hymn which asks a friend for help, not one which abjectly petitions the almighty.
Finally, I love the deceptive simplicity of the lyrics – nothing is overblown, but there is an inevitability about the progression, and a perfect suitability in the match between aspect, virtue and time which is very accomplished.
Another great wedding favourite, this hymn was written by Jan Struther (1901-1953)
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.