“In a Neat and Tidy Garden” Original Hymn (Parable of the Mustard Seed)
“In a Neat and Tidy Garden” Original Hymn (Parable of the Mustard Seed)
DIGITAL SHEET MUSIC DOWNLOAD
This hymn, originally written for the Tell Me Something Good bundle for Lent 2026, is created for use in congregational worship and other ministry contexts. We’ve set fresh words of faith to a well-loved public domain hymn tune for maximum singability.
License for congregational use is included in the purchase—no reporting to CCLI or other licensing agencies is required. To inquire about other uses, such as recording or publishing, please contact us.
“In a Neat and Tidy Garden”
Inspired by Matthew 13:31-32
Tune: ALL THE WAY 8.7.8.7 D (“All the Way My Savior Leads Me”)
Text: Anna Strickland (2025)
Music: Robert Lowry (1875)
DOWNLOAD includes:
PDF sheet music with four-part harmony
PNG image of the lyrics and melody for use in bulletins
Lyrics to copy and paste for bulletins and screens
Lyrics:
In a neat and tidy garden grows a secret tiny seed
There among the planted barley will emerge a shocking weed
Growing quickly through the soil to break forth in vacant spot
What a joy when I discover God has planted in my plot!
What a joy when I discover God has planted in my plot!
Green and tender leaves I harvest from the mustard growing wild
To enrich and spice my dishes that were until now too mild
Unexpected and surprising, uncontrolled by human hand
See the reign of God is growing, taking root throughout the land!
See the reign of God is growing, taking root throughout the land!
Other gardeners may struggle and pretend they have control
Over land that God created but I’ll tell you what I know:
I am not the Master Gardener, just a steward of this place
God has seeded every acre with surprising, wild grace!
God has seeded every acre with surprising, wild grace!
credit info:
Hymn text by Rev. Anna Strickland | A Sanctified Art, LLC | sanctifiedart.org
