268. Lord, I Pray

1 Lord, I pray, if today
some should wrong or trouble me,
make me kind; bring to mind
your forgiveness makes me free.

2 Should there be joy for me,
help me thank you as I should.
Let me through all I do
praise you, Lord, for all things good.

3 If this day I should stray,
show my heart the road to take.
Should I fear, please be near;
hear my prayer for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Text Information
First Line: Lord, I pray, if today
Title: Lord, I Pray
Author: Jean C. Keegstra-De Boer (1949. alt.)
Meter: 67 67
Language: English
Publication Date: 1987
Scripture: ;
Topic: Commitment & Dedication; Temptation & Trial; Songs for Children: Hymns (8 more...)
Tune Information
Name: KLOKJE KLINKT
Harmonizer: AnnaMae Meyer Bush (1985)
Meter: 67 67
Key: C Major
Source: Dutch
Copyright: Harmonization © 1987, CRC Publications


Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Rom. 12:17
st. 2 = 1 Thess. 5:15-18
st. 3 = Ps. 5:8

Originally a children's hymn for morning devotions, "Lord, I Pray" is suitable for God's children of all ages. It is a prayer requesting a forgiving heart (st. 1), grateful living (st. 2), and obedience and comfort through intimacy with God (st. 3).

Jean C. Keegstra-De Boer (b. Grand Rapids, MI, 1922; d. Worth, IL, 1982) wrote the text in four stanzas in 1949; it was published in The Children s Hymnbook (NUCS/Eerdmans, 1962). The Psalter Hymnal includes the first three of the original four stanzas, with minor alterations.
Keegstra-De Boer studied at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, and worked for a time as an editor for Zondervan Publishing. She published several books of verse, including Bible ABC's in Rhyme (1946). Some of her hymns appeared in Let Youth Praise Him (1949) .

Liturgical Use
Service of confession and forgiveness; as a prayer early in the morning service; as a sung prayer that is part of the congregational prayer, especially in the morning.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

The tune KLOKJE KLINKT is a traditional Dutch melody, often associated in the Netherlands with the folk song "Klokje klinkt, vogel zingt" ("Clocks do ring, birds do sing"). Use light organ accompaniment and sing in unison or harmony. The melody may also be sung as a round after two measures, provided this accompaniment is not used. Try stanza 3 as a round without accompaniment. Keep the sense of two long musical lines.

AnnaMae Meyer Bush (b. Paterson, N.J, 1947) harmonized the tune in 1985 at the request of the Psalter Hymnal Revision Committee. A graduate of Calvin College, Bush is a member of Church of the Servant in Grand Rapids, a congregation that publishes its own hymnal. Bush helped to compile and continues to update that hymnal. She has written many hymn texts and tunes for initial use in her congregation, which celebrates the Lord's Supper every week. Thus a number of her hymns are meant to be sung with the celebration of the Eucharist. Several of her hymns are published in Songs of Rejoicing (1989) and New Songs of Rejoicing (1994).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook


Media
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