Facing a Task Unfinished

Representative Text

1 Facing a task unfinished
that drives us to our knees,
a need that, undiminished,
rebukes our slothful ease,
we who rejoice to know you
renew before your throne
the solemn pledge we owe you
to go and make you known.

2 Where other lords beside you
hold their unhindered sway,
where forces that defied you
defy you still today,
with none to heed their crying
for life and love and light,
unnumbered souls are dying
and pass into the night.

3 We bear the torch that flaming
fell from the hands of those
who gave their lives proclaiming
that Jesus died and rose;
ours is the same commission,
the same glad message ours;
fired by the same ambition,
to you we yield our pow'rs.

4 O Father, who sustained them,
O Spirit, who inspired,
Savior, whose love constrained them
to toil with zeal untired,
from cowardice defend us,
from lethargy awake!
Forth on your errands send us
to labor for your sake.

Source: Moravian Book of Worship #634

Author: Frank Houghton

Born: April 24, 1894, Stafford, Staffordshire, England. Died: January 25, 1972, Cornford House, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Buried: Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Son of Thomas Houghton, Curate of Stafford, Frank attended the University of London (BA 1913) London College of Divinity (now St. John’s College, Nottingham, graduated 1914). He was ordained a deacon in 1917, and priest the next year. He served as Curate of St. Benedict’s, Liverpool (1917-9); All Saints, Preston (1919-20). Inspired by missionary Hudson Taylor’s example, he joined the China Inland Mission, serving at Liangshan (1920-21) and Suiting (1921-24 ). In 1923, he married Dorothy Cassels, daughter of Bishop Cassels of West China. In 1924, he became principal… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Facing a task unfinished
Title: Facing a Task Unfinished
Author: Frank Houghton
Meter: 7.6.7.6 D
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

AURELIA

Composed by Samuel S. Wesley (PHH 206), AURELIA (meaning "golden") was published as a setting for “Jerusalem the Golden” in Selection of Psalms and Hymns, which was compiled by Charles Kemble and Wesley in 1864. Though opinions vary concerning the tune's merits (Henry J. Gauntlett once condemned…

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MORPETH


ST. THEODULPH (Teschner)

Now often named ST. THEODULPH because of its association with this text, the tune is also known, especially in organ literature, as VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN. It was composed by Melchior Teschner (b. Fraustadt [now Wschowa, Poland], Silesia, 1584; d. Oberpritschen, near Fraustadt, 1635) for "Valet wi…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 5 of 5)

Complete Mission Praise #126

CPWI Hymnal #306

Text

Moravian Book of Worship #634

Songs of Fellowship #88

The Mission Hymnal #2

Include 3 pre-1979 instances
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