Above:  A Fountain Pen

Image Source = Auyon

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Dear God of beauty,

you have granted literary ability and spiritual sensitivity to

N. and others, who have composed hymn texts.

May we, as you guide us,

find worthy hymn texts to be icons,

through which we see you.

In the Name of God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 44:1-3a, 5-15

Psalm 147

Revelation 5:11-14

Luke 2:8-20

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

APRIL 20, 2013 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINTS AMATOR OF AUXERRE AND GERMANUS OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS; SAINT MAMERTINUS OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT; AND SAINT MARCIAN OF AUXERRE, ROMAN CATHOLIC MONK

THE FEAST OF JOHANNES BUGENHAGEN, GERMAN LUTHERAN PASTOR

THE FEAST OF SAINT MARCELLINUS OF EMBRUN, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP

THE FEAST OF OLAVUS AND LAURENTIUS PETRI, RENEWERS OF THE CHURCH

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http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/proper-for-hymn-writers/

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Above:  The Right Reverend Robert Christopher Wright, Bishop of Atlanta, at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Greensboro, Georgia, March 25, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Lutheran Book of Worship (1978)

Words by George Wallace Briggs (1875-1959)

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1.  Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest;

Nay, let us be thy guests; the feast is thine.

Thyself at thine own board make manifest

In thine own sacrament of bread and wine.

2.  We meet, as in that Upper Room they met.

Thou at the table, blessing, yet dost stand.

“This is my body;” so thou givest yet;

Faith still receives the cup as from thy hand.

3.  One body we, one body who partake,

One Church united in communion blest,

One name we bear, one bread of life we break,

With all thy saints on earth and saints at rest.

4.  One with each other, Lord, for one in thee,

Who art one Savior and one living bread.

Then open thou our eyes, that we may see;

Be known to us in breaking of the bread.

Above:  St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dunwoody, Georgia, Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Lutheran Book of Worship (1978)

Words by George Hugh Bourne (1840-1925), a priest of The Church of England

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1.  Lord, enthroned in heav’nly splendor,

First begotten from the dead,

You alone, our strong defender,

Lifting up your people’s head.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus, true and living bread!

Jesus, true and living bread!

2.  Though the lowliest form now veil you

As of old in Bethlehem,

Here as there your angels hail you,

Branch and flow’r of Jesse’s stem.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

We in worship join with them;

We in worship join with them.

3.  Paschal Lamb, your off’ring finished

Once for all when you were slain,

In its fullness undiminished

Shall forevermore remain.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Cleansing souls from ev’ry stain;

Cleansing souls from ev’ry stain.

4.  Life imparting heav’nly manna,

Stricken rock with streaming side,

Heav’n and earth with loud hosanna

Worship you, the Lamb who died,

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Ris’n, ascended, glorified!

Risn’n, ascended, glorifed!

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This is post #1000 of this weblog.

KRT

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Above:  Easter Vigil, March 30, 2013, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5861968701435894753/5862728954767110258?banner=pwa)

Hymn Source = Hymnbook for Christian Worship (1970), of the American Baptist Convention and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Words by Henry Alford (1810-1871), a priest of The Church of England

http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/feast-of-henry-alford-january-12/

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1.  We walk by faith and not by sight;

No gracious words we hear

From him who spoke as man ne’er spoke;

But we believe him near.

2.  We may not touch his hands and side,

Nor follow where he trod;

But in his promise we rejoice,

And cry, “My Lord and God!”

3.  Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;

And may our faith abound,

To call on thee when thou art near,

And seek where thou art found.

4.  That, when our life of faith is done,

In realms of clearer light

We may behold thee as thou art,

With full and endless light.