Cecil F Alexander
Matthew 4:18-20
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus Calls Us; O’er the Tumult LBW 494
1 Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea,
day by day his clear voice sounding, saying, “Christian, follow me.”
2 As of old St. Andrew heard it by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for his dear sake.
3 Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us, saying, “Christian, love me more.”
4 In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these.”
5 Jesus calls us! In your mercy, Savior, make us hear your call,
give our hearts to your obedience, serve and love you best of all.
Text: Cecil F. Alexander, 1823-1895
Cecil Alexander began writing poetry at the age of 9. When she was 32, she married a pastor, who served a poor, rural parish in northern Oreland. She spent most of her time going from house to house, taking food, visiting the sick, helping all those she had come to love, especially the children of the parish. She loved them so much that she wrote a series of hymns especially for them, one which made her famous, “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”
But she also wrote a famous hymn for adults, the only hymn for adults she ever wrote! “Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult”. She wrote it at the request of her husband to go with the sermon he was preaching on Matthew 4, about the call of the disciples.
Prayer: Jesus, call us over the noise and distraction of this world, that we might lay down our nets and follow. And as we follow, empower us to love each other, and those int eh world, in the way that you loved them. Amen.