1 O Thou Who madest land and sea,
And guidest all, in all their ways,
Who hearest those who bring to Thee
Their sacrifice of prayer and praise;
Oh, hear Thy children as they bring
Themselves a lowly offering!
2 Great God, Who with a Father's love
Dost watch o'er all created things,
And gatherest all, below, above,
Beneath the shadow of Thy wings;
Protect, we pray Thee, now, and bless
Thy children who are fatherless.
3 Thou hearest still the eagle's cry,
And notest e'en a sparrow's fall,
Thy listening ear doth heed on high,
And hearken to the raven's call;
Then, heavenly Father, hear and bless
Thy children who are fatherless.
4 Come, heavenly Father, come to-day,
For we Thy children come to Thee,
And Thou wilt never say us, nay,
If come we in humility;
New-born in Thee, O Father, bless
Thy children who are fatherless.
5 Cast forth upon the barren strand
Of this lone world, to Thee we fly;
In faith and hope, we fain would stand
Beneath Thy sheltering arm for aye;
Stretch forth Thy hand ad pitying bless
Thy children who are fatherless.
6 And may we all with joyful mind
Our hearts as living offerings bring,
The first-fruits of our life, to find
A Father in our heavenly King;
And learn in life and death to bless
Thee, "Father of the fatherless."
Amen.
The Hymnal: revised and enlarged as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892