Come, Ye Thankful People, Come - November Song of the Month

History of Come, Ye Thankful People, Come 

 - "In this hymn, Alford used traditional language and imagery of the rural community to lend words of thankfulness for God’s provision and to expand upon Matthew 13:24–30"

- "​Tom Stewart, in his writing, says:
'[The hymn] addresses the common theme of harvest festivals, called in England the Harvest Home, which is celebrated in English churches usually during the month of September. A thanksgiving service would be held in the church, where the bounty of the harvest is collected, displayed with the fall trappings of pumpkins and autumn leaves, and then dispensed to the needy. And, of course, unlike the humanist that is essentially grateful to only himself, a true Harvest Home celebration acknowledges the provision of God, as did the Pilgrims in 1621 and the ancient Hebrews in their Feast of Firstfruits in the spring on the first day after Passover at the time of the barley harvest. (Stewart, 2016, n.p.)' "

---

---

Lyrics:

1. 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.
2. All the world is 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:
   Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.
3. For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take his harvest home;
   from his field shall in that day all offenses purge away;
   give his angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast,
   but the fruitful ears to store in his garner evermore.
4. Even so, Lord, quickly come to thy final harvest home;
   gather thou thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin;
   there forever purified, in thy presence to abide:
   come, with all thine angels, come, raise the glorious harvest home.

---

Scripture: Matthew 13:39, Mark 4:28, Matthew 3:12

Tune: ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR

Composer Information: Elvey, George J. (1858)

Author: Alford, Henry (5)