Rise Up, O Church of God

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Rise Up, O Church of God is a spiritual song popular in the Protestant churches of the United States and originally composed for the Presbyterians .

The author of the text is William P. Merrill . He published his poetry in the Presbyterian newspaper The Continent in 1911 . In it he refers to Mt 22.37  EU , 1 Joh 2.14  EU and Joh 12.32  EU . The lyrics are sung based on the melody of the Festal Song by William H. Walter from 1872. In it he set the Paul Gerhardt text " Befiehl du your ways" to music . Merrill's song was regularly sung in the alternate text version Rise up, O church of God in the television services from the Crystal Cathedral with Robert Schuller .

text

1. Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.
2. Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.
3. Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!
4. Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

Alternative version:

1. Rise up, O Church of God!
Have done with lesser things;
Give heart and soul
and mind and strength
To serve the King of kings.
2. Rise up, O Church of God!
His Kingdom tarries long;
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.
3. Rise up, O Church of God!
The Church for you doth wait:
His strength shall make
your spirit strong,
Her service make you great.
4. Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod,
As followers of the Son of Man
Rise up, O Church of God!
5. Rise up, O saints of God!
His Kingdom tarries long;
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.
6. Rise up, O saints of God!
The Church for you doth wait:
His strength shall make
your spirit strong,
Her service make you great.

literature

  • Calvin Weiss Laufer: Hymn Lore . Philadelphia 1932.
  • Baptist Hymn Book published by the Psalms and Hymns Trust, 1962.
  • Methodist Hymn Book , Methodist Publishing House, 1954.