Praise The Lord For The Woodland Creatures

Alternate Titles/Uses:
The Woodchuck Hymn
A Hymn for Groundhog Day (February 2)
A Hymn for Earth Day (April 22)

This whimsical new hymn has an interesting origin, told here by the author:

"It was written sometime last year (2007). I had shared with my friend and colleague, The Reverend Anne Robertson, the news of the publishing on the Discipleship Ministries website of one of my hymn texts. Anne is now the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Bible Society. She wrote back and teased me that I needed to write a Hymn for Groundhog Day, since the lectionary and hymnal were both a little short on references to woodchucks. Praise the Lord for the Woodland Creatures, was the result of my picking up of her challenge."

"Anne, who is passionate about all of God's critters, had had a very funny encounter with the Trustees of St. John's United Methodist Church when she was pastor there. She describes it in a narrative, found on her website - http://annerobertson.com/woodchucks4.html. I believe it was her brother who fashioned the artwork at the bottom of the page. That's how the hymn came to be."

Praise the Lord for the Woodland Creatures
(May be sung to the tune, Praise the Lord, by Natalie Sleeth, The Faith We Sing, no. 2020)

Verse 1:

Praise the Lord for the woodland creatures,
praise the Lord for the garden guests,
praise the Lord! By them our lives are blest.

Praise the Lord for the scamp'pring squirrels,
praise the Lord for the graceful deer,
praise the Lord for the sounds of nature we hear.

Praise the Lord for the humble woodchuck,
praise the Lord for the mouse and mole,
praise the Lord for the backyard visits
that sustain the soul.

Praise the Lord for the wildlife near us,
praise the Lord as we watch them play
praise the Lord; always send a smile their way.

Verse 2:

Praise the Lord for the change of seasons,
praise the Lord for the gifts they bring,
praise the Lord for the loveliness of spring.

Praise the Lord for the warmth of summer,
praise the Lord for the colors of fall,
praise the Lord for the beauty of it all.

Praise the Lord for the cold of winter,
praise the Lord every Groundhog Day.
Praise the Lord! It won't last for ever!
That's what the shadows say!

Praise the Lord for the gift of laughter,
praise the Lord for a silly song,
praise the Lord, always try to sing along.

F. Richard Garland's photo, biography, contact information and links to additional songs and choral music are available on the Discipleship Ministries website.

Copyright 2008 F. Richard Garland. Published by Discipleship Ministries, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203.

This hymn may be reproduced and used in congregational Worship with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation on each copy. It may not be used for profit, sold, altered, republished, or placed on a website.