Above:  John Amos Comenius (Jan Amos Komensky)

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Sources = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923) and Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (1969)

Original Words (1661) by Bishop John Amos Comenius (1592-1670)

English Translation (1903) by John Norman Libbey, Jr. (1866-1943)

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1.  When my lips can frame no sound,

Saviour, be my faith’s sure ground;

When my ears no longer hear,

May my spirit know Thee near;

When my eyes no longer see,

May my soul still rest in Thee!

2.  Lord, I trust my soul to Thee,

Let Thy grace abide with me;

By the suffering Thou hast known,

Purge my sin before the throne.

Let my conscience deep within

Feel that I am cleansed from sin.

3.  Faithful God, I pray again,

Give me patience in my pain,

For Christ’s sake grant soft release,

Let Thy servant pass in peace;

Then with all Thy saints above

Let me praise Thy boundless love.

Above:  Dusk

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1911), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words (1878) by William Romanis (1824-1899), a priest of the Church of England

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1.  Round me falls the night.

Saviour, be my Light;

Through the hours in darkness shrouded

Let me see Thy face unclouded;

Let Thy glory shine

In this heart of mine.

2.  Earthly work is done,

Earthly sounds are none;

Rest in sleep and silence seeking,

Let me hear Thee softly speaking;

To my spirit here

Whisper, “I am near.”

3.  Darkened now each ray

O’er the traveler’s way;

Let me know that Thou has found me,

Let me feel Thine arms around me,

Sure from every ill

Thou wilt guard me still.

4.  Blessed, heavenly Light,

Shining through earth’s night;

Voice, that oft of love hast told me;

Arms, so strong to clasp and hold me;

Thou Thy watch wilt keep,

Saviour, o’er my sleep.

Above:  World Map, 1570

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1941), Evangelical and Reformed Church

Words (1937) by Jay Glover Eldridge (1875-1962), for the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions

Eldridge, an academic, taught German at Yale University before commencing a career at the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, in 1901.  He served as Professor of Modern Languages then as Dean of Faculty there, with some time away with the Young Men’s Christian Association in France during World War I.  Eldridge was also active in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., the Masonic Lodge, Phi Beta Kappa, and Moscow Choral Society.

The designated tune is “Hymn to Joy,” from Beethoven’s Symphony #9.  A familiar hymn set to that tune is “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.”

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1.  God of years, Thy love hath led us,

Thou hast been our bulwark strong,

Wall of fire against the wicked,

Sword of power against the wrong.

Thou hast blessed of old Thy servants,

As they bore Thy message far;

We who follow in their footsteps

Evermore their debtors are.

2.  Onward lead, O King eternal,

Lo, we heed Thy high command:

Bear good news to every people,

Far and near, in every land.

Thine we are, Thy love doth seek them,

Thou wouldst bring them to the light;

Lead us on till darkness brightens,

On, till faith is lost in sight.

3.  Lead us forth, a church united,

Strong, courageous in Thy might;

Lo, the fields are white with harvest,

Sheaves to garner ere the night;

One our purpose, one our Leader,

Thus Thy church shall never fail;

Lead us on, O King eternal,

So shall love, worldwide, prevail.

Above:  Christ the Merciful, Twelfth Century C.E.

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1911), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Original Latin text by St. Gregory the Great (circa 540-604), Bishop of Rome

English Translation (1858) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

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1.  O Christ, our King, Creator, Lord,

Saviour of all who trust Thy word,

To them who seek Thee ever near,

Now to our praises bend Thine ear.

2.  In Thy dear cross a grace is found–

It flows from every streaming wound–

Whose power our inbred sin controls,

Breaks the firm bond, and frees our souls.

3.  Thou didst create the stars of night;

Yet Thou has veiled in flesh Thy light,

Hast deigned a mortal form to wear,

A mortal’s painful lot to bear.

4.  When Thou didst hang upon the tree,

The quaking earth acknowledged Thee;

When Thou didst there yield up Thy breath,

Then world grew dark as shades of death.

5.  Now in the Father’s glory high,

Great Conqueror, never more to die,

Us by Thy mighty power defend,

And reign through ages without end.

Above:  Christ Pantocrator

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1911), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words (1858) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

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1.  Lord, my weak thought in vain would climb

To search the starry vault profound;

In vain would wing her flight sublime

To find creation’s utmost bound.

2.  But weaker yet that thought must prove

To search Thy great eternal plan,

Thy sovereign counsels, born of love

Long ages ere the world began.

3.  When my dim reason would demand

Why that, or this, Thou dost ordain,

By some vast deep I seem to stand,

Whose secrets I must ask in vain.

4.  When doubts disturb my troubled breast,

And all is dark as night to me,

Here, as on solid rock, I rest,–

That so it seemeth good to Thee.

5.  Be this my joy, that evermore

Thou rulest all things at Thy will;

Thy sovereign wisdom I adore,

And calmly, sweetly, trust Thee still.

Above:  One of My Crucifixes, July 15, 2014

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Presbyterian Hymnal (1874), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words (1863) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

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1.  Jesus, Lamb of God! for me,

Thou, the Lord of life, didst die;

Whither–whither, but to thee,

Can a trembling sinner fly?

Death’s dark waters o’er me roll,

Save, oh, save my sinking soul.

2.  Never bowed a martyred head

Weighed with equal sorrow down;

Never blood so rich was shed,

Never king wore such a crown;

To thy cross and sacrifice

Faith now lifts her tearful eyes.

3.  All my soul, by love subdued,

Melts in deep contrition there;

By thy mighty grace renewed,

New-born hope forbids despair;

Lord! thou canst my guilt forgive,

Thou hast bid me look and live.

4.  While with broken heart I kneel,

Sinks the inward storm to rest;

Life, immortal life, I feel

Kindled in my throbbing breast;

Thine, for ever thine, I am;

Glory to the bleeding Lamb!

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 6, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1911), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Original Latin text (circa 1600s) by Anonymous

English Translation (1858) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

The John Athelstan Laurie Riley translation is here.

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1.  O bread to pilgrims given,

O Food that angels eat,

O Manna sent from heaven,

For heaven-born natures meet,

Give us, for Thee long pining,

To eat till richly filled;

Till earth’s delights resigning,

Our every wish is stilled.

2.  O Fount of love redeeming,

Forth from the Saviour’s heart

In mercy purely streaming,

A Fount of life Thou art:

O let us, freely tasting,

Our burning thirst assuage;

Thy sweetness, never wasting,

Avails from age to age.

3.  Jesus, this feast receiving,

We Thee unseen adore;

Thy faithful word believing,

We take, and doubt no more:

Give us, Thou True and Loving,

On earth to live in Thee;

Then, death the veil removing,

Thy glorious face to see.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 6, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Pilgrim Hymnal (1912), U.S. Congregationalist

Words (1834) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

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1.  We stand in deep repentance,

Before thy throne of love;

O God of grace, forgive us,

The stain of guilt remove;

Behold us while with weeping

We lift our eyes to thee;

And all our sins subduing,

Our Father, set us free.

2.  O shouldst thou, from us fallen,

Withhold thy grace to guide,

Forever we should wander

From thee and peace, aside;

But thou to spirits contrite

Dost light and life impart,

That man may learn to serve thee

With thankful, joyous heart.

3.  Our souls,–on thee we cast them,

Our only refuge thou!

Thy cheering words revive us,

When pressed with grief we bow;

Thou bearest the trusting spirit

Upon thy loving breast,

And givest all thy ransomed

A sweet, unending rest.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 6, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Pilgrim Hymnal (1912), U.S. Congregationalist

Words (1864) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

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1.  Take me, o my Father, take me;

Take me, save me, through thy Son;

That which thou wouldst have me, make me,

Let thy will in me be done.

2.  Long from thee my footsteps straying,

Thorny proved the way I trod;

Weary come I now, and praying,

Take me to thy love, my God.

3.  Fruitless years with grief recalling

Humbly I confess my sin;

At thy feet, O Father, falling,

To thy household take me in.

4.  Freely now to thee I proffer

This relenting heart of mine;

Freely life and soul I offer,

Gift unworthy love like thine.

5.  Father, take me; all forgiving,

Fold me to thy loving breast;

In thy love forever living

I must be forever blest.

Above:  Missionary’s House, the Congo, Africa

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-ggbain-00538

Words (1865) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), U.S. Congregationalist

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1.  Eternal Father, thou hast said,

That Christ all glory shall obtain,

That he who once a sufferer bled,

Shall o’er the world a conqueror reign.

We wait thy triumph, Saviour, King;

Long ages have prepared thy way;

Now all abroad thy banner fling,

Set time’s great battle in array.

2.  Thy hosts are mustered to the field–

“The Cross! the Cross!” the battle-call–

The old grim towers of darkness yield,

And soon shall totter to their fall.

On mountain tops the watch-fires glow,

Where scattered wide the watchmen stand;

Voice echoes voice, and onward flow

The joyous shouts, from land to land.

3.  O, fill thy church with faith and power,

Bid her long night of weeping cease,

To groaning nations haste the hour

Of life and freedom, light and peace!

Come, Spirit, make thy wonders known,

Fulfill the Father’s high decree;

Then earth, the might of hell o’er thrown,

Shall keep her last great jubilee.