Archive for November 2014
Above: The Annunciation to the Shepherds
Image in the Public Domain
Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1911), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
Words (1857) by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)
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1. Blessed night, when first that plain
Echoed with the joyful strain,
“Peace has come to earth again.”
Alleluia.
2. Blessed hills, that heard the song
Of the glorious angel throng
Swelling all your slopes along.
Alleluia!
3. Happy shepherds, on whose ear
Fell the tidings glad and clear,
“God to man is drawing near.”
Alleluia!
4. Thus revealed the shepherds’ eyes,
Hidden from the great and wise,
Entering earth in lowly guise:
Alleluia!
5. We adore Thee as our King,
And to Thee our song we sing;
Our best offering to Thee bring.
Alleluia!
6. Blessed Babe of Bethlehem,
Owner of earth’s diadem,
Claim and wear the radiant gem.
Alleluia!
Above: The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Charles Le Brun
Image in the Public Domain
Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923)
Words by Timothy Lamb (1758-1829)
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1. Hail, Thou wondrous Infant Stranger,
Born lost Eden to regain;
Welcome in Thy humble manger,
Welcome to Thy creature man;
Hail Immanuel, Hail Immanuel,
Thou Who wast ere time began.
2. Say, ye blest seraphic legions,
What thus brought your Maker down?
Say, why did He leave your regions,
Why forsake His heavenly throne?
Notes melodious, notes melodious,
Tell the cause: Goodwill to Man.
3. We this offered Saviour needed,
Hence we join your theme with joy;
We by none will be exceeded,
While we laud this mystery,
And with wonder, and with wonder,
God incarnate glorify.
Above: The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Andrea Mantegna
Image in the Public Domain
Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1912), U.S. Congregationalist
Words (1895) by Tudor Jenks (1857-1922)
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1. When mother love makes all things bright,
When joy comes with the morning light;
When children gather round their tree,
Thou, Christmas Babe, we sing of thee.
2. When manhood’s brows are bent in thought
To learn what men of old have taught,
When eager hands seek wisdom’s key,
Wise Temple Child, we learn of thee!
3. When doubts assail, and perils fright,
When, groping blindly in the night,
We strive to read life’s mystery,
Man of the Mount, we turn to thee!
4. When shadows of the valley fall,
When sin and death the soul appall,
One light we through the darkness see–
Christ on the Cross, we cry to thee!
5. And when the world shall pass away,
And dawns at length the perfect day,
In glory shall our souls made free,
Thou God enthroned, then worship thee.
Above: Diocesan Confirmation, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, December 8, 2013
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Hymn Source = The Hymnbook (1955), Presbyterian and Reformed
Words by Charles E. Oakley (1832-1865)
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1. Hills of the North, rejoice;
River and mountain spring,
Hark to the advent voice;
Valley and lowland, sing;
Though absent long, your Lord is nigh;
He judgment brings and victory.
2. Isles of the southern seas,
Deep in your coral caves
Pent be each warring breeze,
Lulled be your restless waves:
He comes to reign with boundless sway,
And makes your wastes his great highway.
3. Lands of the East, awake,
Soon shall your sons be free;
The sleep of ages break,
And rise to liberty.
On your far hills, long cold and gray,
Has dawned the everlasting day.
4. Shores of the utmost West,
Ye that have waited long,
Unvisited, unblest,
Break forth to swelling song;
High raise the note, that Jesus died,
Yet lives and reigns, the Crucified.
5. Shout, while ye journey home;
Songs be in every mouth;
Lo, from the North we come,
From East, and West, and South.
City of God, the bond are free,
We come to live and reign in thee!
Above: Diocesan Confirmation, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, December 8, 2013
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (1969)
Original Words (1657) by Johann Scheffler (1624-1677)
English Translation (1885) by Bennet Harvey, Jr. (1829-1894)
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1. Morning Star, O cheering sight!
Ere Thou cam’st how dark earth’s night!
Jesus mine,
In me shine;
In me shine,
Jesus mine;
Fill my heart with light divine.
2. Morning Star, Thy glory bright!
Far excels the sun’s clear light:
Jesus be,
Constantly,
Constantly,
Jesus be
More than thousand suns to me.
3. Thy glad beams, Thou Morning Star,
Cheer the nations near and far;
Thee we own,
Lord alone,
Lord alone,
Thee we own,
Man’s great Saviour, God’s dear Son.
4. Morning Star, my soul’s true Light,
Tarry not, dispel my night;
Jesus mine,
In me shine;
In me shine,
Jesus mine;
Fill my heart with light divine.
Above: Diocesan Confirmation, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, December 8, 2013
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1916 (1918), Episcopal Church
Original Latin Text (Fifth Century C.E.) by Anonymous
English Translation (1849, altered) by Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
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1. Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding;
“Christ is night,” it seems to say;
“Cast away the works of darkness,
O ye children of the day.”
2. Wakened by the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.
3. Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiven;
4. So when next He comes with glory,
Wrapping all the world in fear,
May He with His mercy shield us,
And with words of love draw near.
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This is post #1350 of GATHERED PRAYERS.
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Above: Diocesan Confirmation, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, December 8, 2013
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1916 (1918), Episcopal Church
Words (publication date = 1827) by Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
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1. Hosanna to the living Lord!
Hosanna to the Incarnate Word!
To Christ, Creator, Saviour, King,
Let earth, let heav’n, Hosanna sing!
Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
2. Hosanna, Lord! Thine angels cry;
Hosanna, Lord! Thy saints reply;
Above, beneath us, and around,
The dead and living swell the sound;
Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
3. O Saviour, with protecting care,
Return to this Thy house of prayer:
Assembled in Thy sacred Name,
Where we Thy parting promise claim:
Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the higest!
4. But, chiefest, in our cleansed breast,
Eternal! bid Thy Spirit rest;
And make our secret soul to be
A temple pure and worthy Thee.
Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
5. So in then last and dreadful day,
When earth and heaven shall melt away,
Thy flock, redeemed from sinful stain,
Shall swell the sound of praise again.
Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
Above: St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, December 16, 2012
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Hymn Source = American Lutheran Hymnal (1930), American Lutheran Church (1930-1960) and its predecessors
Original Words (1671) by Johann(es) Olearius (1611-1684)
English Translation (1880) by Emmauel Cronenwett (1841-1931)
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1. The new Church Year again is come
And wakes the joy of Christendom;
Thy King, O Zion, comes to thee,
Rejoice, rejoice eternally!
Hallelujah!
2. Now in our midst anew are heard
The lessons of God’s holy Word,
That lead the way to life and heav’n;
Lord, praise to Thee for this be giv’n!
Hallelujah!
3. Thy truth repeated o’er and o’er,
Our faith will strengthen more and more;
Let it abide in us, that we
May render endless praise to Thee.
Hallelujah!
Above: St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, December 16, 2012
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Evangelical Lutheran Church (U.S.)
Original Words by Magnus Brostrup Landstad (1802-1880)
English Translation by Ole G. Belsheim (1861-1925)
This is a hymn for the First Sunday of Advent in The Lutheran Hymnary.
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1. Awake, thou that sleepest, arise from death’s slumber!
Christ on thee shall shine;
The daylight, now glowing in rays without number,
Shows mercy divine;
Repose now no longer,
Last night’s dark danger
Soon come o’er thy soul.
Awake now, arise, and be whole!
2. In earth’s vale of sorrows the cold mists enshroud thee,
And tears often flow;
And suffering and grief seem the portion allowed thee
In this life below;
Yet, hear the glad message,
That rescue doth presage,
And pardon and peace
Through Him who doth bring thee release.
3. In earth’s dreary deserts the sharp thorns will would thee.
And rough is the way;
And often thou longest from ills that surround thee
To hasten away;
Yet, cease now thy sadness,
God’s springtime of gladness
Through Christ thou shalt see:
Awake, for He calleth to thee!
4. O lift up thine eyes now with hope unto heaven,
The daybreak is here:
Thy Lord let all blessing and honor be given,
Go meet Him with cheer;
When hearts are convicted
Of sin, and afflicted
His welcome will rise
In anthems of praise to the skies.
5. To God be all glory, who graciously sendeth
From heaven His light;
The way and the truth my soul findeth,
And peace is my right.
O Christ, shine upon us!
From death Thou hast won us
To follow, O Lord,
Thy steps in the light of Thy word.
GATHERED PRAYERS 
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