We Plough the Fields and Scatter

All good gifts around us.

We Plough the Fields And Scatter is an translation by Jane M. Campbell from the original German poem Wir Pflügen und Wir Streuen,  first published in 1782 and written by Matthias Claudius (1740-1815). The English adaptation, first published in 1861, often appears in hymnals and is a favorite during harvest. It is set to the tune: Wir Pflügen, first published in 1800 it was written by Johann Schülz (1747-1800). In the Liturgy of the Hours, We Plow the Fields and Scatter is used during Ordinary Time for Evening Prayer.



WE PLOW THE FIELDS AND SCATTER by Jane Campbell, 1861 (Public Domain)

We plow the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land;
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

Chorus:
All good gifts around us Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord For all His love.

He only is the maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
And all that we can offer your boundless love imparts,
The gifts to you most pleasing are humble, thankful hearts.

Father, We Thank Thee

Watch Over Thy Church, O Lord, in Mercy.

Father We Thank Thee, first published in 1940 was written by the Reverend Francis Bland Tucker (1895–1984), an Episcopal priest and hymn writer from the United States. The text draws upon prayers found in Chapters 9 and 10 of the Didache (see below), a pastoral manual of the early Church dated to the late 1st or early 2nd century. It is set to the tune, Rendez à Dieu attributed to French composer Louis Bourgeois (c.1510–1560). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Father, We Thank Thee, Who Hast Planted is used during Ordinary Time for Evening Prayer and on the Feast of Corpus Christi.



from the THE DIDACHE, translated 1885 (Public Domain)

Chapter 9

 1. Now as regards the Eucharist (the Thank-offering), give thanks after this manner:
 2. First for the cup: "We give thanks to Thee, our Father, for the holy vine of David Thy servant, which thou hast made known to us through Jesus, Thy servant: to Thee be the glory for ever."
 3. And for the broken bread: "We give thanks to Thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou hast made known to us through Jesus, Thy servant: to Thee be the glory for ever.
 4. "As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains and gathered together became one, so let Thy church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom, for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever."
 5. But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, except those baptized into the name of the Lord; for as regards this also the Lord has said: "Give not that which is holy to the dogs."

Chapter 10

 1. Now after being filled, give thanks after this manner:
 2. "We thank Thee, Holy Father, for Thy Holy Name, which Thou hast caused to dwell (tabernacle) in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which Thou hast made known to us through Jesus Thy Servant, to Thee be the glory for ever.
 3. "Thou, O, Almighty Sovereign, didst make all things for Thy Name's sake; Thou gavest food and drink to men for enjoyment that they might give thanks to Thee; but to us Thou didst freely give spiritual food and drink and eternal life through Thy Servant.
 4. "Before all things we give thanks to Thee that Thou art mighty; to Thee be the glory for ever.
 5. "Remember, O Lord, Thy Church to deliver her from all evil and to perfect her in Thy love; and gather her together from the four winds, sanctified for Thy kingdom which Thou didst prepare for her; for Thine is the power and the glory for ever.
 6. "Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If any one is holy let him come, if any one is not holy let him repent. Maranatha. Amen."
 7. But permit the Prophets to give thanks as much as [in what words] they wish.

Let All Things Now Living

A Song of Thanksgiving

Let All Things Now Living, first published in 1939 was written by composer and pianist: Katherine Davis (1892-1980). Her best known composition is the Christmas favourite, The Little Drummer Boy (1941). Let All Things Now Living is the best known of her hymns. It is set to the traditional Welsh melody, Llwyn Onn which is best known as the setting for John Oxenford's The Ash Grove. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Let All Things Now Living is used during Ordinary Time for Evening Prayer.



LET ALL THINGS NOW LIVING by Katherine Kennicott Davis, 1939 (Public Domain)

Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God our Creator triumphantly raise;
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, by guiding us onto the end of our days,
His banners are o'er us, his light goes before us, a pillar of fire shining forth in the night:
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished, as forward we travel from light into light.

His law he enforces, the stars in their courses, the sun in its orbit obediently shine,
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, the depths of the ocean proclaim God divine.
We too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing with glad adoration, a song let us raise:
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving, to God in the highest, hosanna and praise.