Eternal Lord of love, behold your Church

This is my 24th entry in the Lenten Hymn-of-the-Day Project.

The words are by Thomas H. Cain (b. 1931). The melody, known as "Old 12th" comes from "Pseaumes octante tris de David", 1551, and was harmonized by Charles Winfred Doughlas (1867-1944). I played this "sort of in the style" of Gustav Holst's famous anthem, "Turn back, O man".

I usual have this hymn during the mid-Lenten season. Since tomorrow is the Fourth Sunday of Lent, that would put us squarely midway.

ONE FULL VERSE of INTRODUCTION.

Eternal Lord of love, behold your Church
Walking once more the pilgrim way of Lent,
Led by your cloud by day, by night your fire,
Moved by your love and toward your presence bent:
Far off yet here - the goal of all desire.

So daily dying to the way of self,
So daily living to your way of love,
We walk the road, Lord Jesus, that you trod,
Knowing ourselves baptized into your death:
So we are dead and live with you in God.

If dead in you, so in you we arise,
You the first-born of all the faithful dead;
And as through stony ground the green shoots break,
Glorious in springtime dress of leaf and flower,
So in the Father's glory shall we wake.