Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

"Once a farmer went out sowing,"
Jesus began.
"Soon the tender plants were growing
There on his land.
Every day he labored, tending,
Weeding, working, hope unbending.
So his care was never-ending
For what he'd planned."

God of love, when he was sleeping,
His harvest grew.
Even with his faithful keeping,
Life came from you.
You awakened seeds he'd sown there;
You gave strength to what was grown there.
He was never all alone there;
He looked to you.

Long ago our church was planted
Here in this place.
Those who loved you worked and tended
In your embrace.
Here they built a place of worship,
Labored well in faith and friendship,
Preached and served in times of hardship,
All by your grace.

In our joyful celebration,
God, this is true:
You sustain this congregation;
Life comes from you.
In the times we pray and gather,
When we risk for things that matter,
As we love and serve our neighbor,
We trust in you.