Come, let us join our friends above

I was pointed towards the following hymn by Charles Wesley as it was thought it may be helpful in my dissertation.  And it was extremely helpful in a discussion around Ancestor Worship in West African traditional religion.  But I love finding a new (old) hymn and the words just jump out at you and really speak to you...

1.
Come, let us join our friends above
who have obtained the prize,
and on the eagle wings of love
to joys celestial rise.
Let saints on earth unite to sing
with those to glory gone,
for all the servants of our King
in earth and heaven are one. 
2.
One family we dwell in him,
one church above, beneath,
though now divided by the stream,
the narrow stream of death;
one army of the living God,
to his command we bow;
part of his host have crossed the flood,
and part are crossing now. 
3.
Ten thousand to their endless home
this solemn moment fly,
and we are to the margin come,
and we expect to die.
E'en now by faith we join our hands
with those that went before,
and greet the blood-besprinkled bands
on the eternal shore. 

4.
Our spirits too shall quickly join,
like theirs with glory crowned,
and shout to see our Captain's sign,
to hear this trumpet sound.
O that we now might grasp our Guide!
O that the word were given!
Come, Lord of Hosts, the waves divide,
and land us all in heaven.

I just love this.  How easily we forget those saints who have gone before us, the cloud of witnesses from throughout time who cheer us on in the race...those who are now in glory from time immemorial, many known to us and many more not known to us.  But every time we worship we join with their unending song of praise in heaven.  May we never forget that we are only a small part of a much much bigger Communion of Saints who paved the way for us.  And may we not forget those who will come behind us...how are we doing in paving the way for them?