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"To This Our World of Time and Space"
is one final text that deals with the coming of Jesus. The poem centers on God's eternal purpose, that sense of divine destiny that links Incarnation to redemption and ultimately to Christ's exaltation. Look at Galatians 4:4-5 ("in the fullness of time") and then read the poem aloud. TO THIS OUR WORLD OF TIME AND SPACE To this our world of time and space, a destined hour, a chosen place, our Saviour Christ has come: let earth and sky alike bow down before his everlasting crown, the Lord himself has come! To this our world his hand had made, in human form and flesh arrayed, our Saviour Christ has come: the light of God's eternal light to end our fallen nature's night, the Lord himself has come! To this our world, to seek and save, to crib and crown, to cross and grave, our Saviour Christ has come: the promised gift of God above, amazing grace, immortal love, the Lord himself has come! To this our world of joy and pain, to die for us and rise again, our Saviour Christ has come: to die for us and rise again - and over all the earth to reign, the Lord himself has come! -Timothy Dudley-Smith, from GREAT IS THE GLORY: 36 NEW HYMNS WRITTEN BETWEEN 1993 & 1996, Hope Publishing Company, 1997. © 1997 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission. For permission to copy or use this hymn, please contact: Hope Publishing Company, 380 S. Main Place, Carol Stream, IL 60188 1-800-323-1049 Fax: (630) 665-3200 Email: permission@hopepublishing.com www.hopepublishing.com [SPECIAL BONUS: Some of you might be interested in seeing a photograph of me and hymnwriter Timothy-Dudley Smith in the retired bishop's study in Salisbury, England. My sabbatical in the summer of 1998 included three weeks in England. The web site for my sabbatical report is: of John Stott, Graham Kendrick, and Doris Stam, my wife.] Happy New Year, Chip Stam Pastor of Worship and Music Chapel Hill Bible Church Chapel Hill, North Carolina |