"Go Forth for God" is a wonderful parting hymn of encouragement. It exhorts believers to "go forth for God" to the world in peace (st. 1), "in love" (st. 2), "in strength" (stanza 3), and "in joy" (st. 4), using phrases from Romans 12:9-21 and 1 Thessalonians 5:13b¬22-biblical texts containing Paul's instructions about how Christians should act in the world.
John R. Peacey (b. Hove, Brighton, Sussex, England, 1896; d. Brighton, Sussex, 1971) wrote the original text to this hymn in 1968. The 1987 Psalter Hymnal version of the text, however, is a result of revisions made by Peacey in 1970 and by the editors of the English Hymnal supplement, English Praise (1975). Educated in theology at Selwyn College, Cambridge, Peacey was ordained in the Church of England in 1923. In addition to serving several churches in England, he was also headmaster and principal of the Bishop Cotton School in Simla, India (1927-1945), and principal of Bishop's College in Calcutta, India (1935-1945). Peacey concluded his career at Bristol Cathedral (1945-1966). Written mainly during his retirement years, his hymn texts were published posthumously in Go Forth for God (1981).
Liturgical Use:
Dismissal; especially effective for a profession of faith or commissioning service.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988
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