Can be sung to MENDELSSOHN 7.7.7.7 D with refrain
(“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” PH # 31)
John went out to preach God’s word, To prepare us for the Lord.
Speaking to the waiting crowd, He was faithful, stern and loud:
“Brood of vipers! Would you flee? Now the ax is by the tree!
Don’t look at what others do; God wants change and growth in you.
Live like children who obey! Bear good fruit! Begin this day!”
People asked, “What should we do?” John said, “Share your clothes and food.
Don’t take more than what you need; Live by faith and not by greed.
Don’t cause others grief or pain; Earn your bread through honest gain.
Here’s what you are called to do: God wants change and growth in you.
Live like children who obey! Bear good fruit! Begin this day!”
Then the people asked of John, “Could he be the Chosen One?”
John gave them a quick reply: “He is greater still than I.
He’ll bring change outside and in, He will judge and conquer sin.
He will come to make you new; God wants change and growth in you.
Live like children who obey! Bear good fruit! Begin this day!”
Biblical reference: Luke 3:7-18; Matthew 3:7-13.
Tune: Felix Mendelssohn, in his cantata Festgesang an die Künstler, 1840.
Text: Copyright ©2009 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. E-mail: bcgillette@comcast.net
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is the author of Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor (Discipleship Resources/Upper Room Books, 2009) and Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today’s Worship (Geneva Press, 2000) and the co-pastor of Limestone Church in Wilmington, Del.
The lyrics alone are being published one per week in the Outlook magazine, but waiting for each issue gives you little time to work the hymn texts into your worship plans. So we are offering them to you all NOW and all READY to print out for bulletin inserting beginning on the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29 – in full music manuscript, like they would appear in a hymnal. You download a master, and then print as many copies as you need for your worship services. One downloadable hymn-carol is $9.95 OR all four are only $29.95 (ready to be printed altogether on a two-sided 8.5″x11″ page).
