Above:  All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, May 5, 2016

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Original German Text by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

Stanza #1 (1734)

Stanzas #2-4 (1741)

English Translation (1789)

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

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Lord Jesus, for our call of grace,

To praise Thy Name in fellowship

We humbly meet before Thy face,

And in Thy presence lovefeast keep.

Shed in our hearts Thy love abroad,

Thy Spirit’s unction now impart;

Grant we may all, O Lamb of God,

In Thee be truly one in heart.

+++++

Welcome among Thy flock of grace

With joyful acclamation,

Thou, Whom our Shepherd we confess:

Come, feed Thy congregation.

We own the doctrine of Thy Cross

To be our sole foundation;

Accept from every one of us

The deepest adoration.

+++++

Lord Jesus, to our hearts reveal

Thy grace and love unceasing;

Thy hand, once pierced with the nail,

Bestow on us a blessing;

That hand which to Thy family,

With tender love’s affection,

Ere Thou ascendest up on high,

Imparted benediction.

+++++

O Thou, the Church’s Head and Lord,

Who as a Shepherd leadest

Thy flock, and richly with Thy word

And sacrament us feedest:

What shall we say?  lost in amaze,

Our hearts bow down before Thee;

For none sufficiently can praise,

Love, honor or adore Thee.

Above:  Star Night

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

English Translation (1769), recast in 1789 by John Swertner (1746-1813)

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

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Jesus, hear our prayer,

For Thy children care;

While we sleep, protect and bless us,

With Thy pardon now refresh us:

Leave Thy peace divine

With us, we are Thine.

Above:  Cemetery

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-det-4a28669

Original German Text by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

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

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From land to land the Christian goes,

Through pain and self-denial;

And finds a haven of repose

From all his earthly trial.

God’s fatherly enbrace

Shall close the pilgrim race;

The precious seed, in weakness sown,

Shall rise in glory not its own.

+++++

Thy race is run, thy struggle o’er,

As conqueror we hail thee;

Blest spirit, free for evermore,

No sorrows now assail thee;

Ascend on wings of love

To join the ranks above;

While e’en thy tenement of clay

Has promise of a brighter day.

+++++

God shall descend with glory crowned,

His majesty disclosing;

Rest, pilgrim, in thy hallowed ground,

In joyful hope reposing;

Rest, spirit ever blest,

Safe on thy Saviour’s breast!

O guide us all, Thou God of light,

From depths of woe to Salem’s height.

Above:  St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, LaGrange, Georgia, June 5, 2016

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Original German Text (1723) by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

English Translation (1789) by Bishop Frederick William Foster (1760-1835)

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

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Christian hearts, in love united,

Seek alone in Jesus rest;

Has He not your love excited?

Then let love inspire each breast;

Members–on our Head depending,

Lights–reflecting Him, our Sun,

Brethren–His commands attending,

We in Him, our Lord, are one.

+++++

Come, then, O flock of Jesus,

Covenant with Him anew;

Unto Him, Who conquered for us,

Pledge we love and service true;

And should our love’s union holy

Firmly linked no more remain,

Wait ye at His footstool lowly,

Till He draw it close again.

+++++

Grant, Lord, that with Thy direction,

“Love each other,” we comply,

Aiming with unfeigned affection

Thy love to exemplify;

Let our mutual love be glowing,

Thus will all men plainly see,

That we, as on one stem growing,

Living branches are in Thee.

+++++

O that such may be our union,

As Thine with the Father is,

And not one of our communion

E’er forsake the path of bliss;

May our light ‘fore men with brightness,

From Thy light reflected, shine;

Thus the world will bear us witness,

That we, Lord, are truly Thine.

Above:  Twelve Apostles

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text (1738) by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

English Translation (1746), recast in 1788

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

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Jesus’ love unbounded

None can e’er explain,

Yet we His disciples

Often cause Him pain;

Even they forget Him

Who have seen His face,

Even they still grieve Him

Who enjoy His grace.

+++++

While we Thy past dealings

Gratefully review,

We’re assured, Thy mercies

Are each morning new;

Pardon our transgressions,

Hear our earnest cry;

Us in soul and body

Heal and sanctify.

+++++

All our days, O Jesus,

Hallow unto Thee;

May our conversation

To Thy honor be;

Let us all experience,

To the end of days,

Thy abiding presence

‘Midst Thy chosen race.

Above:  A Crucifix, Which I Have Donated to My Parish Library Since I Took This Picture

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Original German Text (1721) by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

English Translation (1738) by John Wesley (1703-1791)

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

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O Thou, to Whose all-searching sight

The darkness shineth as the light!

Search, prove my heart; it pants for Thee;

O, burst these bonds, and set it free.

+++++

Wash out its stains, refine its dross;

Nail my affections to the Cross;

Hallow each thought; let all within

Be clean, as Thou, my Lord, art clean.

+++++

If in this darksome wild I stray,

Be Thou my Light, be Thou my Way;

No foes, no violence I fear,

No harm, while Thou, my God, art near.

+++++

Teach me where’er Thy steps I see,

Dauntless, untired, to follow Thee;

O let Thy hand support me still,

And lead me to Thy holy hill.

+++++

If rough and thorny be my way,

My strength proportion to my day;

Till toil, and grief, and pain shall cease

Where all is calm and joy and peace.

Above:  Pentecost Dove, May 24, 2015

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Original German Text (1732) by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

English Translation (1789) by John Swertner (1746-1813)

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

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Jesus, by the Holy Spirit

May we all instructed be;

Sanctify us by the merit

Of Thy blest humanity.

+++++

Grant that we may love Thee truly;

Lord, our thoughts and actions sway,

And to every heart more fully

Thy atoning power display.

+++++

Lead us so that we may honor

Thee, the Lord our Righteousness,

And bring fruit to Thee, the Donor

Of all gospel-truth and grace.