Above:  Service of Reconciliation, the Cathedral of St. Philip, October 22, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1910) by Charles Herbert Richards (1839-1925)

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1931/1935), Congregational Christian Churches

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Our Father, thy dear name doth show

The greatness of thy love;

All are thy children here below

As in thy heav’n above;

One family on earth are we

Thro’out its wildest span:

O help us ev’rywhere to see

The brotherhood of man.

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Alike we share thy tender care;

We trust one heav’nly Friend;

Before one mercy-seat in pray’r

In confidence we bend;

Alike we hear thy loving call,

One heav’nly vision scan,

One Lord, one faith, one hope for all,

The brotherhood of man.

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Bring in, we pray, the glorious day

When battle cries are still’d;

When bitter strife is swept away

And hearts with love are fill’d.

O help us banish pride and wrong,

Which since the world began

Have marr’d its peace; help us make strong

The brotherhood of man.

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Close knit the warm fraternal tie

That makes the whole world one;

Our discords change to harmony

Like angel-songs begun:

At last, upon that brighter shore

Complete thy glorious plan,

And heav’n shall crown forevermore

The brotherhood of man.

Above:  Icon of the Nativity, by Andrei Rublev

Image in the Public Domain

Original Text (1540) by Jan Roh (1485/1490-1547)

English Translation (1858) by Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878)

Hymn Source #1 = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

Hymn Source #2 = The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal (1942), by William Gustave Polack

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Once He came in blessing

All our ills redressing,

Came in likeness lowly,

Son of God most holy;

Bore the Cross to save us,

Hope and freedom gave us.

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Still He comes within us,

Still His voice would win us,

From the sins that hurt us;

Would to truth convert us,

From our foolish errors,

Ere He comes in terrors.

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Thus if thou hast known Him,

Not ashamed to own Him;

Nor dost love Him coldly,

But wilt trust Him boldly;

He will now receive thee,

Heal thee, and forgive thee.

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But though many a trial,

Deepest self-denial,

Long and brave endurance,

Must thou win assurance

That His own makes thee,

And no more forsakes thee.

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He, who well endureth,

Bright reward secureth;

Come then, O Lord Jesus,

From our sins release us;

Let us here confess Thee,

Till in heaven we bless Thee.