Henry H. Tweedy (1868-1953) wrote about the needed fire of the Holy Spirit in the lyrics below. Here is an account about him from Hymnsite:
Tweedy lived in the United States from the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War until World War II had ended. He completed seminary, served as a minister, and returned to seminary as a teacher. What an incredibly changing world he lived in! He saw the arrival of the twentieth century. He saw the economy go from high times to low times in the Depression, and back to the post-war boom years. He saw huge rivers dammed and electricity come of age. He saw the seas change from being dominated by wooden ships, to the building--and sinking--of the Titanic. He saw the skies filled with birds and then planes. He saw weapons of mass destruction change from crude canons to horrifying atomic bombs. Changes like these are enough to disorient anyone. How do you give spiritual guidance and direction to people in such an explosive, changing environment? With all of this turmoil, it is hardly any wonder that Tweedy looked for the Spirit of the living God in the world around him! With the world constantly changing, he set out to describe features and landmarks that help us recognize the Holy Spirit and its effects on the church and its people. Read his words.
1. O Spirit of the living God,
thou light and fire divine,
descend upon thy church once more,
and make it truly thine.
Fill it with love and joy and power,
with righteousness and peace;
till Christ shall dwell in human hearts,
and sin and sorrow cease.
2. Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow
until our minds are free
from mists of error, clouds of doubt,
which blind our eyes to thee.
Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips
with flaming love and zeal,
to preach to all thy great good news,
God's glorious commonweal.
3. Teach us to utter living words
of truth which all may hear,
the language all may understand
when love speaks loud and clear;
till every age and race and clime
shall blend their creeds in one,
and earth shall form one family
by whom thy will is done.
4. So shall we know the power of Christ
who came this world to save;
so shall we rise with him to life
which soars beyond the grave;
and earth shall win true holiness,
which makes thy children whole;
till, perfected by thee, we reach
creation's glorious goal!
Now look for the Spirit in your life and in your community. Show the Spirit in your life and in your community. Experience the Spirit in your life and in your community.
God bless you--
Lection@HymnSite.com
Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT.
Tweedy lived in the United States from the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War until World War II had ended. He completed seminary, served as a minister, and returned to seminary as a teacher. What an incredibly changing world he lived in! He saw the arrival of the twentieth century. He saw the economy go from high times to low times in the Depression, and back to the post-war boom years. He saw huge rivers dammed and electricity come of age. He saw the seas change from being dominated by wooden ships, to the building--and sinking--of the Titanic. He saw the skies filled with birds and then planes. He saw weapons of mass destruction change from crude canons to horrifying atomic bombs. Changes like these are enough to disorient anyone. How do you give spiritual guidance and direction to people in such an explosive, changing environment? With all of this turmoil, it is hardly any wonder that Tweedy looked for the Spirit of the living God in the world around him! With the world constantly changing, he set out to describe features and landmarks that help us recognize the Holy Spirit and its effects on the church and its people. Read his words.
1. O Spirit of the living God,
thou light and fire divine,
descend upon thy church once more,
and make it truly thine.
Fill it with love and joy and power,
with righteousness and peace;
till Christ shall dwell in human hearts,
and sin and sorrow cease.
2. Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow
until our minds are free
from mists of error, clouds of doubt,
which blind our eyes to thee.
Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips
with flaming love and zeal,
to preach to all thy great good news,
God's glorious commonweal.
3. Teach us to utter living words
of truth which all may hear,
the language all may understand
when love speaks loud and clear;
till every age and race and clime
shall blend their creeds in one,
and earth shall form one family
by whom thy will is done.
4. So shall we know the power of Christ
who came this world to save;
so shall we rise with him to life
which soars beyond the grave;
and earth shall win true holiness,
which makes thy children whole;
till, perfected by thee, we reach
creation's glorious goal!
Now look for the Spirit in your life and in your community. Show the Spirit in your life and in your community. Experience the Spirit in your life and in your community.
God bless you--
Lection@HymnSite.com
Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT.