All things are thine: no gift have we

All things are thine: no gift have we. John Greenleaf Whittier* (1807-1892). Written in 1872 for the opening of Plymouth Church, St Paul, Minnesota, presumably on request. It had five stanzas, with a graceful reference in stanza 3 to the geographical location: No lack Thy perfect fullness knew; For human needs and longings grew This house of prayer, this home of rest, In the fair garden of the West. This local reference has led to the omission of this stanza in many hymnals. Without it, the hymn is a very appropriate celebration for a new church, especially in a new building: O Father! deign these walls to bless, Fill with Thy love their emptiness, And let their door a gateway be To lead...