FOREVER WIDER THAN THE SKY

—Lyrics by Melcena Burns Denny—

(see octavo CQ2203)

Forever wider than the sky, and deeper than the ocean, Is the bounty of your love, O Lord, Lord of all creation! We bow before your radiant throne, our need for you confessing, We thank you for the ageless words that give to us your blessing: "The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you, The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."

MELCENA BURNS DENNY, California researcher, dramatist, author and artist, was born near Auburn, California in 1876, and began teaching school in Scott Valley, California. She was married to Robert Roy Denny. With the opening in 1937 of the famed First Theater in Monterrey, she contributed the opening drama. Her play, Black Bart, the Lone Robber of Calaveras, ran for a notable six months in 1946. She researched and wrote the story of the famed spider dancer, Lola Montez, which became one of the features of California's Centennial (1949). She wrote many magazine articles for Youth's Companion, Colliers, Montana Western History, and Woman's Home Companion, and was the author of several books, including an illustrated book of poems for children, and other poems. She was a member of the Michillinda (Calif.) Presbyterian Church in 1965, when Pauline Delmonte set the first of a number of her poems to music. This poem, "Noel," was also Delmonte's first venture into composing for choirs. Delmonte is still composing music to the lyrics of Melcena Burns Denny, who died in 1974.

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