00:00
“All Creatures of Our God and King” stands as one of Christianity’s most majestic declarations of universal praise. This timeless hymn invites everything in creation, from the blazing sun to the gentlest breeze, to join in worshiping the Creator. When you lead your congregation in this anthem, you’re connecting them to a legacy of worship that spans eight centuries and reminds us that praise is woven into the very fabric of existence.
Hymn History: All Creatures of Our God and King
The story begins not in a sanctuary, but in the countryside of medieval Italy. Francis of Assisi, born in 1181 to a wealthy merchant family, lived his early years pursuing pleasure and status. But a series of encounters, including imprisonment during war and a profound spiritual awakening, transformed this party-loving young man into one of history’s most beloved saints.
Francis chose radical poverty and devoted himself entirely to God. He became known for his extraordinary love of creation, seeing every element of the natural world as a reflection of the Creator’s glory. Francis didn’t just appreciate nature; he saw it as his family. Birds were his sisters, the sun his brother, death itself he called “Sister Death.” This wasn’t mere poetry – it was theology lived out in daily wonder.
Near the end of his life, while suffering from illness and nearly blind, Francis composed “Canticle of the Sun” in Italian rather than the traditional Latin. The poem was a love letter to creation, calling everything from “Brother Sun” to “Sister Moon” to join him in praising God. It was vintage Francis – finding joy and purpose even in suffering, seeing God’s goodness everywhere he looked.
Centuries later, in 1906, William Draper translated Francis’s canticle into English, pairing it with a 17th-century German melody from Geistliche Kirchengesänge. The result became “All Creatures of Our God and King,” and Francis’s medieval poem found new life in churches worldwide. Today, when we sing this hymn, we’re joining our voices with a man who understood something profound: worship isn’t just a human activity – it’s cosmic.
Call to Worship
When Francis of Assisi looked at the world around him, he didn’t just see resources or scenery. He saw family. He saw fellow worshipers. The burning sun, the silver moon, the rushing wind – all of creation was singing, and Francis simply wrote down what he heard.
As we prepare to worship, consider this: you’re not alone in praising God today. The sunrise this morning was an act of worship. The wind outside is joining in. The very ground beneath your feet declares God’s glory. When we sing “All Creatures of Our God and King,” we’re adding our voices to a chorus that never stops, joining with all creation in the song it’s been singing since the beginning. Does not Scripture tell us that if we don’t praise him, even the rocks will cry out?
Francis understood that worship isn’t about working up enough emotion or finding the perfect words. It’s about joining something already happening all around us. So as we sing, let’s remember – we’re not starting the praise today, we’re simply adding our “Alleluia” to creation’s ongoing symphony.
Lead with Confidence
Here’s the thing about this 2025 arrangement: it takes a hymn your congregation probably hasn’t sung in years and makes it feel both familiar and fresh. The restructured verses and that building bridge create a worship experience that moves, that goes somewhere. This isn’t just a hymn to sing, it’s a journey from invitation to declaration to eruption of praise.
Don’t be timid with this one. The wide melodic range and anthemic feel demand confidence and energy. Your congregation needs you to fully commit to the declaration you’re making. When you hit those “Alleluias,” let them soar! When you reach the bridge, let it breathe and build. The repetition of “Alleluia” over that keyboard riff isn’t filler – it’s giving your people space to let Francis’s rich, theological lyrics sink in before the final triumphant chorus.
This is undeniably a call to worship, and what a call it is! You’re not just inviting people to sing; you’re inviting them to join the cosmic chorus. Lead with the confidence that comes from knowing you’re declaring timeless truth: everything that has breath, every created thing, exists to praise the One who made it all.
Blending Suggestions
This arrangement works as a call to worship before virtually any praise song – it’s that versatile and powerful as an opening declaration. However, if you want to create an especially cohesive thematic flow, consider these songs that directly echo Francis’s celebration of creation:
So Will I (100 Billion X) by Hillsong UNITED: Francis called creation to worship, and this modern anthem answers with creation’s response. When you sing “If the stars were made to worship, so will I,” you’re echoing the same theology Francis expressed centuries ago. The connection is so natural you could transition directly from the final chorus of “All Creatures” into the opening of “So Will I,” creating a seamless flow from call to response.
God of Wonders by Third Day: Both songs paint worship on the grandest canvas possible. Where Francis calls the sun and moon to praise, “God of Wonders” declares how water, earth, and sky reveal God’s majesty. Try using “All Creatures” as your opening call to worship, then move into “God of Wonders” to continue celebrating the Creator’s glory displayed throughout the universe.
Indescribable by Chris Tomlin: Francis noticed the burning sun and silver moon; Tomlin marvels at everything “from the highest of heights to the depths of the sea.” Both songs share a sense of wonder at creation’s diversity and beauty. Consider creating a medley that moves from Francis’s invitation for creation to worship into Tomlin’s declaration of why creation has every reason to praise.
Great Are You Lord by All Sons & Daughters: After calling all creation to worship, this contemporary song brings the focus to something intimate – God’s breath in our lungs. The bridge’s declaration that “all the earth will shout Your praise” connects perfectly with Francis’s vision. Use “All Creatures” to establish the cosmic scope of worship, then let “Great Are You Lord” bring it personal, reminding your congregation that we who bear God’s breath have special reason to join creation’s song.