Archive for January 2014

Above: The Hymn
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1911), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
Words (1840) by the Reverend William Henry Furness (1802-1896), a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Unitarian minister involved in then-radical causes, such as the abolition of slavery
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1. In the morning I will raise
To my God the voice of praise;
With His kind protection blest,
Sweet and deep has been my rest.
2. In the morning I will pray
For His blessing on the day;
What this day shall be my lot,
Light or darkness, know I not.
3. Should it be with clouds o’ercast ,
Clouds of sorrow gathering fast,
Thou, who givest light Divine,
Shine within me, Lord, O shine.
4. Show me, if I tempted be,
How to find all strength in Thee,
And a perfect triumph win
Over every bosom sin.
5. Keep my feet from secret snares,
Keep my eyes, O God, from tears,
Every step Thy grace attend,
And my soul from death defend.
6. Then, when fall the shades of night,
All within shall still be light;
Thou wilt peace around diffuse,
Gently as the evening dews.

Above: The Flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Image in the Public Domain
Eliza Scudder (1821-1896), born in Boston, Massachusetts, was originally a Unitarian yet became an Episcopalian.
http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/feast-of-eliza-scudder-september-26/
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Thou Grace Divine, Encircling All:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/thou-grace-divine-encircling-all/
Thou Hast Gone Up Again:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/thou-hast-gone-up-again/
Thou Life Within My Life:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/thou-life-within-my-life/
Thou Long Disowned, Reviled, Oppressed:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/thou-long-disowned-reviled-oppressed/
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Above: The Hymn
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), National Council of Congregational Churches of the United States
Words (1852) by Eliza Scudder (1821-1896)
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1. Thou Grace divine, encircling all,
A soundless, shoreless sea,
Wherein at last our souls must fall,
O love of God most free!
2. When over dizzy heights we go,
One soft hand blinds our eyes,
The other leads us safe and slow,
O love of God most wise!
3. And though we turn us from thy face,
And wander wide and long,
Thou hold’st us still in thine embrace,
O love of God most strong!
4. The saddened heart, the restless soul,
The toil-worn frame and mind,
Alike confess thy sweet control,
O love of God most kind!
5. But not alone thy care we claim,
Our wayward steps to win;
We know thee by a dearer name,
O love of God within!
6. And, filled and quickened by thy breath,
Our souls are strong and free
To rise o’er sin and fear and death,
O love of God, to thee.

Above: Part of the Hymn
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), National Council of Congregational Churches of the United States
Words by Eliza Scudder, 1821-1896
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1. Thou hast gone up again,
Thou who didst first come down;
Thou hast gone up to reign,
Gone up from cross to crown.
Beyond the opening sky
No more thy face we see;
Yet draw our souls on high,
That we may dwell with thee.
2. Up to those regions blest
Where faith has fullest sway,
Up to thine endless rest,
Up to thy cloudless day;
Up, up to where thou art,
Fount of unwasting love,
Up to thy mighty heart,
All its greatn power to prove.
3. Not now for distant heaven
Or future life we pray:
Lord, let thy grace be given
To make us thine to-day.
Here hold us in thy hand,
Here by thy Spirit guide,
So shall our hearts ascend,
And still with thee abide.

Above: Part of the Hymn
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1933), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
Words (1871) by Eliza Scudder (1821-1896)
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1. Thou Life within my life, than self more near,
Thou veiled Presence infinitely clear,
From all illusive shows of sense I flee,
To find my center and my rest in Thee.
2. Below all depths Thy saving mercy lies,
Through thickest gloom I see Thy light arise;
Above the highest heavens Thou art not found
More surely than within this earthly round.
3. Take part with me against these doubts that rise
And seek to throne Thee far in distant skies;
Take part with me against this self that dares
Assume the burden of these sins and cares.
4. How shall I call Thee who art always here?
How shall I praise Thee who art still most dear?
What may I give Thee save what Thou hast given,
And whom but Thee have I in earth or heaven?

Above: Christ Pantocrator
Image in the Public Domain
Hymn Source = Hymns and Sonnets (1880)
Words (1860) by Eliza Scudder (1821-1896)
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1. Thou long disowned, reviled, oppressed,
Strange friend of humankind,
Seeking through weary years a rest
Within our hearts to find.
2. How late thy bright and awful brow
Breaks through these clouds of sin!
Hail, Truth divine, we know thee now;
Angel of God, come in!
3. Come, with purifying fire
And desolating sword!
Thou of all nations the desire,
Earth waits thy cleansing word.
4. Struck by the lightning of thy glance,
Let old oppressions die;
Before thy cloudless countenance
Let fear and falsehood fly.
5. Anoint our eyes with healing grace
To see as ne’er before
Our Father, in our brother’s face,
Our Master, in His poor.
6. Flood our dark life with golden day,
Convince, subdue, enthrall;
Then to a mightier yield thy sway,
And love be all in all!

Above: St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, Between 1910 and 1920
Copyright Claimant = Detroit Publishing Company
Image Source = Library of Congress
(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/det/item/det1994020000/pp/)
Reproduction Number = LC-D4-73191
Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868) was Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/feast-of-henry-hart-milman-september-25/
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O Help Us, Lord; Each Hour of Need Thy Heavenly Succour Give:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/o-help-us-lord-each-hour-of-need-thy-heavenly-succour-give/
When Our Heads Are Bowed With Woe:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/when-our-heads-are-bowed-with-woe/
Ride On! Ride On In Majesty!:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/ride-on-ride-on-in-majesty/
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Above: The Hymn
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary (1927), Presbyterian
Words (published in 1827) by Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868)
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1. O help us, Lord; each hour of need
Thy heavenly succour give;
Help us in thought, and word, and deed,
Each hour on earth we live.
2. O help us when our spirits bleed
With contrite anguish sore;
And, when our hearts are cold and dead,
O help us, Lord, the more.
3. O help us, through the prayer of faith,
More firmly to believe;
For still the more the servant hath,
The more shall he receive.
4. If, strangers to Thy fold, we call,
Imploring at Thy feet
The crumbs that from Thy table fall,
‘Tis all we dare entreat.
5. But be it, Lord of mercy, all,
So Thou wilt grant but this;
The crumbs that from Thy table fall
Are light and life and bliss.
6. O help us, Saviour, from on high;
We know no help but Thee:
O help us to to live and die
As Thine in heaven to be.

Above: The Hymn, Altered Slightly
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
Hymn Sources = The Church Hymnary (1927) and Handbook to The Church Hymnary (1927)
Words (published in 1827) by Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868)
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1. When our heads are bowed with woe,
When our bitter tears o’erflow,
When we mourn the lost, the dear,
Gracious Son of Mary, hear.
2. Thou our throbbing flesh hast worn:
Thou our mortal griefs hast borne:
Thou hast shed the human tear:
Gracious Son of Mary, hear.
3. When the sullen death-bell tolls
For our own departing souls,
When our final doom is near,
Gracious Son of Mary, hear.
4. Thou hast bowed the dying head:
Thou the blood of life hast shed:
Thou hast filled a mortal bier:
Gracious Son of Mary, hear.
5. When the heart is sad within
With the thought of all its sin,
When the spirit shrinks with fear,
Gracious Son of Mary, hear.
6. Thou the shame, the grief, hast known,
Though the sins were not Thine own:
Thou hast deigned their load to bear:
Gracious Son of Mary, hear.

Above: The Slightly-Altered Hymn Text
Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor
Hymn Sources = The Church Hymnary (1927) and Handbook to The Church Hymnary (1927), Presbyterian
Words (published in 1827) by Henry Hart Milman (1791-1868)
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1. Ride on! ride on in majesty!
Hark! all the tribes’ “Hosanna!” cry;
Thy humble beast pursues his road
With palms and scattered garments strowed.
2. Ride on! ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.
3. Ride on! ride on in majesty!
The winged squadrons of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes
To see the approaching sacrifice.
4. Ride on! ride on in majesty!
Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
The Father on His sapphire throne
Awaits His own anointed Son.
5. Ride on! ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain,
Then take, O God, Thy power, and reign.
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