Come Ye Thankful People Come

Ho, ho, ho!   Thanksgiving is here!  YES, Canadian Thanksgiving!   🙂   Want to know more about it?  Check out Kym’s blog, she does a nice write up!  As I was thinking about what I could do for thanksgiving this song kept popping into my mind so I figured I should just share it.  Come Ye Thankful People come.

Lyrics to Come ye Thankful People Come

Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin:
God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!

We ourselves are God’s own field,
Fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear,
Then the full corn shall appear;
Grant, O Harvest Lord, that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,
And shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall purge away
All that doth offend that day:
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore.

Then, thou Church triumphant, come,
Bring the song of harvest-home;
All are safely gathered in,
Free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, for ever purified,
In God’s garner to abide;
Come, ten thousand angels, come,
Raise the glorious harvest-home!

North American Thanksgiving

Canadian thanksgiving happens sooner in the year then it does for Americans.  I always thought it odd that two countries, so very similiar have holidays that are celebrated at different times of the year.  Yet, each celebrate it, despite our different histories, in much the same way. 

Food, families, and conversation.  Turkey/ham/chicken, taters/rice/yams, veggies and other sides.  Everyone does some type of rendition of this if doing a traditional North American celebration. 

Since I work at the local foodbank I’m thankful that at this time of year churches and individuals stop and consider the needs of the less fortunate in our communities.  Reaching out with food or money to give a boost up.  It’s a good thing to do don’t you think?  

Henry Alford, Author

Henry was born the son of a curate in Wiltshire (England).   A curate, if you’re like me and didn’t know, a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.  So basically his dad was a minister, and he in turn, also became a minister. He turned down opportunities to become a bishop twice and continued to serve as a curate.  In time he became a dean of Canterbury Chapel. He wrote a good number of songs. Hymntime & Hymnary resources.

I included two youtube videos that I am familiar with two rather different tunes.  I like both, though I am most familiar with the first one I posted.