Moravian Book of Worship ‎#439

439. We Built a Sanctuary Sure

1 We built a sanctuary sure;
it stands on sacred sod.
A church erected to endure,
the temple of our God.
We come to worship in this place
with aspiration high;
it is the consecrated place,
where God himself draws nigh.

2 The church is God’s abiding place,
his altar is within,
and here by faith we see God’s face,
are cleansed from stain of sin.
A sanctuary for the soul,
where love can cast our fear,
where broken spirits are made whole,
for God himself is here.

3 Around Christ’s table we commune
in fellowship supreme;
inspired by Christ, through word and tune,
of things divine we dream.
Forth from this sacred place we go
with challenge in each soul
to love, to lift, to build, to grow.
God’s kingdom is our goal.

Text Information

• First Line: We built a sanctuary sure
• Title: We Built a Sanctuary Sure
• Author: Harold Humbert
• Meter: C.M.D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1995
• Scripture:
  1 Samuel 7:12
  ;
  1 Kings 8:11
  ;
  1 Kings 8:22-30
• Topic: Special Occasions; Church--Dedication of a building; God--Protection by; Holy Communion; Worship

Tune Information

• Name: FOREST GREEN
• Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
• Meter: C.M.D.
• Key: G Major
• Copyright: From the English Hymnal (1906). Used by permission of Oxford University Press.