Dear God, Our Father

Dear God our Father, at Thy knee confessing

Author: Katharine Lee Bates
Tune: DEEPER LIFE
Published in 12 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. Dear God, our Father, at Thy knees confessing
Our sins and follies, close in Thine embrace,
Children forgiven, happy in Thy blessing,
Deepen our spirits to receive Thy grace.

2. Not for more beauty would our eyes entreat Thee,
Flooded with beauty, beauty everywhere;
Only for keener vision that may greet Thee,
In all Thy vestures of the earth and air.

3. The stars and rainbows are Thy wondrous wearing,
Sunlight and shadow moving on the hills;
Holy the meadow where Thy feet are faring,
Holy the brooklet that Thy laughter fills.

4. Not for more love our craving hearts implore Thee,
But for more power to love until they glow
Like hearths of comfort, eager to restore Thee,
Hidden in human wretchedness and woe.

5. In souls most sullen Thou art softly dreaming
Of saints and heroes wrought from Thy divine
Pity and patience, still the lost redeeming,
Deepen our spirits for love like Thine.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #1222

Author: Katharine Lee Bates

Katharine Lee Bates was born in Falmouth, Mass., August 12, 1859. Her father was a pastor in the Congregational Church; he died when she was an infant. Her mother moved the family to Wellesley. She received a B.A. (1880) and M.A. (1891) from Wellesley College. She taught high school from 1880-1885 and then was a professor of English literature at Wellesley. She wrote poetry, children's stories, textbooks and travel books. In the summer if 1893 when she was lecturing at Colorado College she went to the top of Pike's Peak. Inspired by the beauty of the view she wrote all four verses of "America the Beautiful" which was an instant hit when it was published. She had an intimate relationship with Katharine Coman, dean of Wellesley, who she live… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Dear God our Father, at Thy knee confessing
Title: Dear God, Our Father
Author: Katharine Lee Bates
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

DEEPER LIFE


HENLEY


O PERFECT LOVE (Barnby)

Joseph Barnby (PHH 438) composed O PERFECT LOVE and said it was a "hymn tune in the natural style and idiom … of our own time." Originally an anthem, O PERFECT LOVE was shortened into a hymn tune for publication in The Hymnal Companion (1890) and in the Church Hymnary (1898). The tune is also know…

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #1222
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The Cyber Hymnal #1222

Include 11 pre-1979 instances
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