Hymn to the Shepherd: "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd...."

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 11:05 pm

This is a bit odd, since I already know the song's title, but I hope I may get a 'hit' nevertheless! I'm looking for a choral arrangement of the song, "Hymn to the Shepherd". It goes something like:

1. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the sheep of His fold;
Dear is the love that He gives them,
Dearer than silver or gold.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are His "other" lost sheep;
Over the mountains He follows,
Over the waters so deep.

(Chorus) Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens, (4th verse "we'll hasten,")
Bringing them back to the fold.

2. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the lambs of His fold;
Some from the pastures are straying,
Hungry and helpless and cold.
See, the good shepherd is seeking,
Seeking the lambs that are lost;
Bringing them in with rejoicing,
Saved at such infinite cost.

3. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the "ninety and nine."
Dear are the sheep that have wandered
Out in the desert to pine.
Hark! He is earnestly calling,
Tenderly pleading today;
"Will you not seek for my lost ones,
Off from my shelter astray?"

4. Green are the pastures inviting,
Sweet are the waters and "still";
Lord, we will answer Thee gladly,
"Yes blessed Master, we will!
Make us Thy true under-shepherds,
Give us a love that is deep;
Send us out into the desert
Seeking Thy wandering sheep."

The above, I think, is the original poem, "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd", by Mary Wingate, written in 1899. This is usually an LDS song (as far as my research shows), but the version I'm looking for is a choral piece I sang with a UMC choir several years ago. The cover of the sheet music is blue and white and the song (I'm pretty certain) is called "Hymn to the Shepherd". Any ideas or thoughts on where to look? And has anyone else heard this beautiful and haunting song that calls us to be our Lord's true under-shepherds...?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:27 pm

Found it, thanks to former choir director!

"Hymn of the Shepherd". Text by Mary Wingate. Music by Donald Moore. Schmitt, Hall & McCreary. 1989. SATB voices w/ piano accompaniment.