O Lord, Thy Benediction Give

Christ Episcopal Church, Macon, Georgia, April 3, 2011:  The Right Reverend Keith Whitmore, Assistant Bishop of Georgia, Giving the Benediction

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/atldiophotos/ChristChurchMacon02#5591454644619795986)

Hymn Source = The Parish School Hymnal (1926), of the United Lutheran Church in America

Words by John Armstrong (1813-1856), poet, priest, and Anglican Bishop of Grahamstown, South Africa (1853-1856)

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1.  O Lord, thy benediction give

On all who teach, on all who learn,

That so Thy Church may holier live,

And ev’ry lamp more brightly burn.

2.  Give those that teach pure hearts and wise,

Faith, hope, and love, all warmed by prayer:

Themselves first training for the skies,

They best will raise their people there.

3.  Give those that learn the willing ear,

The spirit meek, the guileless mind;

Such gifts will make the lowliest here

Far better than a kingdom find.

4.  O bless the shepherd, bless the sheep,

That guide and guided both be one,

One in the faithful watch they keep,

One in the joy of work well done.