World Communion Sunday Hymn

CHRIST INVITES FROM EVERY NATION
World Communion Sunday Hymn

Text: John A. Dalles, September 30, 2011
Tune: BLAENWERN, BEECHER
Meter: 8787D

Christ invites from every nation,
Every epoch, time and place,
Guests to join the celebration,
In God’s banquet hall of grace!
Here, God’s Spirit shall surround us,
While we worship Christ the Son.
Christ has claimed us, Christ has found us:
Now, from every land, we come!

Christ has spread the table for us
In the presence of our foes,
Where the bread is broken for us
Where the cup of blessing flows.
God has called the world to savor,
All that Christ has done and said,
Taste the goodness of God’s favor,
From the table Christ has spread!

Christ invites the world to meet Him,
To respond with thankfulness,
Sing and shout with joy to greet Him,
Pray and praise His righteousness.
High and mighty, now adore Him,
Praise Him, too, the low and lone,
Every heart, come bow before Him,
At Christ’s table, joined as one!

Christ, whose world awaits our presence,
May Your fields show great increase,
And the harvest, ripe with reverence,
Yield the bounty of Your peace.
May earth’s people hear Your story,
Take to heart the truth we show,
And draw nearer to your glory,
As to every land, we go!

Copyright © 2011, John A. Dalles. Used by permission.

Permission granted for one-time use in worship,

with copyright notation as shown above.

Please let me know if you sing this hymn!

There are No Words to Fully Say

September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2011

Text: John A. Dalles
Tune: JERUSALEM
Meter: LMD

There are no words to fully say
What happened on that dreadful day;
When towers fell, when glistening planes
Became the tools of terror’s reign.
The ones we lost shall ever be
Reminders of life’s brevity.
Dear God, surround us as we sing;
Bless us in our remembering.

God, there are symbols we revere
To keep their sacrifices near.
We mark our loss, in photographs,
Rare souvenirs and echoed laughs,
We will not let the grief and pain
Outstrip the memories that remain.
Dear God, surround us as we pray:
Bless us this day, bless us this day.

We thank the helpful ones who came
To staunch the wounds, to douse the flames;
The ones who set their needs aside,
To offer comfort, serve and guide.
Heroic deeds and kindness shared,
By all who gave, and all who cared.
Dear God, we ever shall recall,
The selfless ones who gave their all.

May people of good faith agree
To fashion God’s community;
To overcome pain and distress,
And live in peace and righteousness.
We stand for this, and this we know,
From Christ whose blessings overflow.
Dear God, we live in hope and pray:
Bless us this day, bless us this day.

If you wish to use this hymn in worship you may do so by including the following notation:

Copyright © 2011, John A. Dalles. Used by Permission.

I Will Honor Christmas within My Heart

Inspired by a passage from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”

Text: John A. Dalles, July 7, 2011

Tune: ICH STERBE TAGLICH

Meter: 98.98.88

I will honor Christmas within my heart,

I’ll share these treasures all the year.

The glow of Christ will shine and not depart,

Love lifts my spirits, cancels fear.

The new born Savior to adore—

I’ll honor Christmas evermore!

I will live within each page of the past,

Where simple shepherds, splendid kings,

Sing peace on earth, bring gifts, and hold Him fast,

Beneath a star, and angel wings!

The Savior born in Bethlehem—

I’ll treasure in my heart again!

I will live in the present joyfully,

No matter what this day may bring;

My needs and fears, surrender gratefully,

While unto Jesus I shall cling!

The new born Savior loves me still—

I’ll trust His word, I’ll do His will!

I will live in the future hopefully;

I’ll take the longest view I may,

Sure that the One who planted faith in me,

Shall guide me to eternal day!

The new born Savior is my king—

I’ll honor Christmas as I sing!

I will honor Christmas within my heart,

I’ll listen to what Christ will teach.

The glow of Christ will shine and not depart,

But bring the love of God in reach!

The new born Savior to adore—

I’ll honor Christmas evermore!

Copyright © 2024, John A. Dalles

New Collection of John Dalles Hymns is In the Works...

In yesterday's mail I received word from Wayne Leupold Editions that they plan to publish a new book of 62 of my hymns, called God Is the Singer's Friend, to be ready to present at the 2013 Annual Conference of The Hymn Society.

I am very pleased about this news.

As you know, Wayne Leupold Editions is the publisher of my most recent collection of hymns: We Turn To God.

That collection of 52 hymns appeared last summer, and can be ordered from Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc, 8510 Triad Drive, Colfax, NC 27235.

Visit their website:

www.wayneleupold.com

Take and Receive

Take and Receive

Based on St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercise #234

Text: John A. Dalles, June 29, 2011

Suggested familiar tune: ADELAIDE

Take and receive all my liberty;

Be all in all, O Master, to me!

Take who I am, take what I possess,

To use and honor, treasure and bless.

Take and receive all my memory—

What I recall, who I used to be.

Both joy and grief accept and renew,

So I may live according to you.

Take and receive all I understand

Insight and knowledge come from your hand—

All of my errors come and replace:

Give me your love and grant me your grace,

Take and receive my entire will

Help me, dear Lord, your plan to fulfill.

Riches from you are ample and more:

Thank you. O Lord! I need nothing more.

Copyright © 2024, John A. Dalles

Hymn Commission Information

Hymn Commission Information

I am accepting commissions for new hymn texts or anthem lyrics on a particular theme, or for a special occasion.

Selected Completed Commissions 

"O Celebrate God's Love!" Commissioned for the ecumenical committee for the celebration of the city of Lancaster PA, 250th anniversary.

"Faith is Our Heritage!" Peachtree PC Atlanta; 75th anniversary hymn

"Welcome God With Joyful Singing" Commissioned by Gwendolyn Jensen, the President of Wilson college in memory of Debra Bowen.

“You Know the Way” AKA “O Troubled Heart” written for Glenn Rudolph as the text for his work commissioned by David Billings at Parkwood Presbyterian Church.

"We Look Outward, God of Blessings!" Commissioned by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in honor of the Rev. Dr. Carnegie Samuel Calian, President of the Seminary, on the occasion of his retirement.

"Draw Near in Peace" Music by Glenn Rudolph; a commission for Worthington (OH) Presbyterian Church.

“God May Your Presence Here” in honor of Don Wilkins on the occasion of his retirement as organist and choral director at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh.

“O Praise the Lord! O Praise the Lord!” with original tune by Bill Rhoads; commissioned by Highland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster PA for their anniversary.

“God Calls the Church to Endless Song” a hymn in honor of the ministry of music of Sharon Miller

“We Sing of Hampton” a hymn for the 2005 bicentennial of Hampton Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania.

Why Commission a Hymn?

• To celebrate an important anniversary or other significant event in the life of a congregation

• To honor or remember the contributions of particular individuals

• To mark a significant point in the faith journey

• To provide a new text for a treasured familiar tune

• To give voice to concerns not yet addressed within available hymns

For more information, please contact me.

Commissioned hymn text fees vary, depending on length.

I retain the copyright but give permission to the commissioning church in perpetuity. 

CHRIST’S LOVE IS OURS

Text: John A. Dalles, February 25, 2011

Possible Tune: HOLY COMMUNION (by Johann Haydn, 1737-1806)

Meter: LMD

Christ’s love is ours, to receive with thanksgiving!

Jesus brings love that shall not end—

Love that sustains our daily living.

Christ greets us as our dearest friend!

He knows us well, He knows our need;

All we must do, is follow His lead.

Christ’s love is ours, to receive with thanksgiving!

Jesus brings love that shall not end.

Christ’s gifts are ours, Christ has given them to us;

He loves us so, His gifts are rare!

Christ blesses us, so to bless others through us;

Each gift is ours; yet, ours to share.

Neighbors in need, uphold and uplift,

So may we honor Giver and gift.

Christ’s gifts are ours, Christ has given them to us;

He loves us so, His gifts are rare!

To Christ I offer myself while I’m singing:

My word, my way, my liberty.

Take and receive, Lord, these gifts I am bringing:

My work, my will, my memory.

All that I have, and call my own:

It is all yours, yes, yours alone!

Take and receive every gift I am bringing:

Your love and grace, enough for me!

In Christ we live, by His timing and measure,

In every hour of the day.

Morning and night, both at work and at leisure,

We trust His word, we know His way.

Moment by moment, Christ nurtures and guides,

As He makes holy each of our lives.

In Christ we live, by His timing and measure,

In every hour of the day.

Copyright © 2024, John A. Dalles