Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

We Look to You, O Jesus
LANCASHIRE (7.6.7.6 D) ("The Day of Resurrection")

We look to you, O Jesus — in faith, our Pioneer —
For you have gone before us and brought your people here.
You showed us all God's kingdom, you gave us work to do;
In death you went before us; for life, we turn to you.

Through times of strife and anguish, through times of joy and grace,
Through conflicts with our culture, you've brought us to this place;
And still your world is changing, and still we seek to be
A church reformed, reforming in faithful ministry.

Perfecter of the faith, Lord, we look to you each day;
We work for peace and justice, we worship, learn and pray —
And witnesses surround us, a host of saints above,
As we continue sharing the joy of your great love.

Biblical Reference: Hebrews 12:1-2
Tune: Henry Thomas Smart, 1835 ("The Day of Resurrection")
Text: Copyright © 2006 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Copied from Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009).
Email: bcgillette@comcast.net     New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com/

Hymn Use Permission: Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009) includes a permission note for those who own this book to use this hymn (along with the 76 other new hymns in the book) in their local church's worship services. People who do not own Songs of Grace are asked to contact Carolyn (bcgillette@comcast.net) for permission to use the hymn and to get a copy of the hymn formatted for worship bulletin use.


Hymn Note for "We Look to You, O Jesus"

This hymn was originally written for the 300th Anniversary Celebration of American Presbyterians celebrated on October 1, 2006 in Philadelphia and included this additional verse as the second verse:

We looked to you to guide us three hundred years ago;
How different was the land then, from this land that we know.
With towns and country growing, your people heard your call,
And so they built new churches, proclaiming you to all.