Benediction

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Eternal Father, God of love, Creator of the universe

Author: F. E. Belden
Tune: MASON (Belden)
Published in 6 hymnals

Representative Text

1. Eternal Father, God of love,
Creator of the universe,
Pour out thy Spirit from above,
As from thy temple we disperse.

2. Keep thou our lips, that all we say
May honor thee, our God and King;
That our example day by day
May teach the sacred truths we sing.

3. Direct our wayward steps aright,
Our Guide and Guard forever be;
In thine eternal arms of might
Enfold and draw us nearer thee.

Source: Christ in Song: for all religious services nearly one thousand best gospel hymns, new and old with responsive scripture readings (Rev. and Enl.) #762

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Author: F. E. Belden

Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evangelist Billy Sunday. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >

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