I Vow To Thee My Country’ Sir Cecil Spring Rice, GCMG, GCVO / Gustav Holst
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test That lays upon the altar, the dearest and the best The love that never falters, the love that pays the price The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice
And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know We may not count her armies, we may not see her king Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering And soul by soul, and silently her shining bounds increase And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace
The text for the hymn comes originally from a poem written originally in about 1908, by a British diplomat and Ambassador to the United States, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, (1859-1918).
Called Urbs Dei (The City of God) or ‘The Two Father Lands‘ the poem explores how a Christian will have two countries , his homeland and his heavenly country.
In 1918 just prior to his death and after the trauma and losses of the First World War, Spring Rice rewrote the first verse to ensure it portrayed themes of love and sacrifice.
Music by Gustav Holst, (1874 – 1934)
It was set to music by Gustav Holst, who, in spite of his insistence on the integrity and completeness of his ‘Planets Suite‘, he himself adapted part of Jupiter to form a tune that fitted the words of the poem .
It was published as a hymn in 1925 in the ‘Songs of Praise‘ hymnbook, which was sadly after Spring Rice’s death on 14th February, 1918
The tune was called ‘Thaxted ‘ after the village where Holst lived for many years.
Longstanding Popularity
‘I Vow to Thee, My Country’ has been popular ever since and was used at the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill, Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher.
In 2019 it was voted the Nation’s sixth favourite hymn , despite there being some criticism over it with a question over ” unquestioning obedience”.
It continues to be widely used in Remembrance Services worldwide.
With very powerful words it continues to resonate with us as we gather to remember the fallen of all conflicts.
One of the most lovely hymns of Harvest; we were delighted to sing it again today at St Peter’s harvest service.
We gathered to celebrate this special service of thanksgiving on a very foggy morning – The top of the Tower obscured from view. Living in what is still very much a rural community, where we are blessed to see our local farmers at work cultivating the land, our Lay Reader, Maxine Johnson, gave thanks in her prayers today for the gift of that sight, we are so accustomed to witnessing, year on year. She gave thanks for farmers, market gardeners and allotmenteers for their diligence and commitment to the land and dedication to their way of life. Dedication and a lifestyle choice from which we all benefit, not only in the form of the food which they produce, but the landscape around us that we see every day.
The landscape here in south Leicestershire, is especially pretty, with its rolling hills and soft valleys – gentleness that is so easily overlooked and possibly dismissed by some. Yet, without it and so many areas of precious farmland found alongside in Rutland, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire provide some of the best food people enjoy.
We are truly blessed.
Readings today were firstly from Deuteronomy and latterly the Gospel of St John. In the reading from Deuteronomy, the instruction is made as follows:
You shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place which the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there.
The second reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus himself, speaks of food in two different ways, the food our bodies need to live, but the more vital food for our very souls.
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”.
John 6:35
Jesus, as ever, speaks with immense wisdom and understanding of people. Before making this beautiful statement, he talks to the people who followed him after he fed them on the mountain with fish and bread. His instinct was that they had eaten so well, they wanted to be fed again. So understandable, but his lesson was that food from the earth, does not last and only sustains the body. Earthly food does not feed the soul.
He argued that his ‘food’ was the bread of eternal life and is unfaltering. He, himself, is the food we all need. When we believe and follow him, our lives will be enriched and sustained, however hard our earthly struggles may be. He is with us, inside us, keeping us going and even carrying us at times.
What an extraordinary message and gift? Definitely, something to sing loud and joyfully!
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.
Holy Communion Service – Sunday 22nd June, 10:30am
Today’s service is the First Sunday after Trinity
Today’s Collect Prayer
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Themes and thoughts
The nicene creed
The Nicene Creed is a summary of core Christian beliefs, stated during worship. Its history dates back to Emperor Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Today, we reflected on the Creed – what it means to us and how important it is to affirm our faith publicly.
The words express beliefs held by Christians together; the first words being ‘We believe’ – This contrasts to the Apostle’s Creed, used for individuals (often during baptism) which begins with the words ‘I believe’.
These are the words of the Nicene Creed.
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The readings reflected the theme of belief – The first from the Acts of the Apostles, tells of St Paul’s time in Athens, where he came upon many altars to different gods and also one to the ‘Unknown God’ – Paul spoke to the people about this Unknown God and explained who He is.
Reading from Acts 17: Paul in Athens
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market place every day with those who chanced to be there. 18 Some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers met him. And some said, “What would this babbler say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took hold of him and brought him to the Are-op′agus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you present? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears; we wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
22 So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op′agus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, 28 for
‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your poets have said,
‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.”
Coffee and social afterwards
We followed the service with a good cup of coffee or tea and caught up with news from everyone – This is the time of year when people come and go on holidays and trips, so it’s great to see photos and hear about adventures.
Thanks to our service team for a warm and thought provoking service.
Donations
Donations can be made to St Peter’s at any time from the secure payment site here. Donations go towards maintenance of the building, day to day service bills and supports our work in our small community. Donations can be made as one-offs or regular payments.
St Peter's Church, Church Langton 