Archive for May 2020
Above: Midnight Sun
Image in the Public Domain
Text by Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)
Hymn Source = Common Praise (1998), the Anglican Church of Canada
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When the morning stars together their creator’s glory sang,
and the angel host all shouted till with joy the heavens rang,
then your wisdom and your greatness their exultant music told,
all the beauty and the splendour which your mighty works unfold.
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When in synagogue and temple voices raised their psalmist’ songs,
offering the adoration which alone to you belongs;
when the singers and the cymbals with the trumpet made accord,
glory filled the house of worship, and all knew your presence, Lord.
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Voice and instrument, in union through the ages, spoke your praise,
Plainsong, tuneful tuneful hymns, and anthems told your faithful, gracious ways.
Choir and orchestra and organ each a sacred offering brought,
while inspired by your Spirit, poet and composer wrought.
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Lord, we bring our gift of music; tough our lips and fire our hearts,
teach our minds and train our senses, fit us for this sacred art.
Then with skill and consecration we would serve you, Lord, and give
all our powers to glorify you, and, in serving, fully life.
Above: The Golden Rule, by Norman Rockwell
Image in the Public Domain
Text Source = Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)
Hymn Source = The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)
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Thy love, O God, has all mankind created,
and led thy people to this present hour;
in Christ we see life’s glory consumated;
thy Spirit manifests his living power.
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We bring thee, Lord, in fervent intercession
the children of thy world-wide family:
with contrite hearts we offer our confession,
for we have sinned against thy charity.
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From out the darkness of our hope’s frustration,
from all the broken idols of our pride,
we turn to seek thy truth’s illumination,
and find thy mercy waiting at our side.
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In pity look upon thy children’s striving
for life and freedom, peace and brotherhood,
till at the fullness of thy truth arriving,
we find in Christ the crown of every good.
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Inspire thy church, mid earth’s discordant voices,
to preach the gospel of her Lord above,
until the day this warring world rejoices
to hear the mighty harmonies of love.
Above: Ursa Major
Image in the Public Domain
Text by Albert H. Bayly (1901-1984)
Text Source = The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)
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O Lord of every shining constellation
that wheels in splendour through the midnight sky:
grant us thy Spirit’s true illumination
to read the secrets of thy work on high.
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And thou who mad’st the atom’s hidden forces,
whose laws its mighty energies fulfil:
teach us, to whom thou giv’st such rich resources,
in all we use, to serve thy holy will.
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O Life, awaking life in cell and tissue,
from flower to bud, from beast to brain of man:
O help us trace, from birth to final issue,
the sure unfolding of thine ageless plan.
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Thou who hast stamped thine image on thy creatures,
and though they marred that image, lov’st them still:
uplift our eyes to Christ, that in his features
we may discern the beauty of thy will.
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Great Lord of nature, shaping and renewing,
who mad’st us more than nature’s sons to be:
help us to tread, thy grace our souls enduing,
the road to life and immortality.
Above: Earthrise, Apollo 8 (1968)
Image in the Public Domain
Text by Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)
Hymn Source = The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)
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Lord, save thy world: in bitter need
thy children lift their cry to thee;
we wait thy liberating deed
to signal hope and set us free.
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Lord, save thy world: our souls are bound
in iron chains of fear and pride;
high walls of ignorance around
our faces from each other hide.
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Lord, save thy world: we strive in vain
to save ourselves without thine aid;
what skill and science slowly gain
is soon to evil ends betrayed.
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Lord, save thy world: but thou hast sent
the Saviour whom we sorely need;
for us his tears and blood were spent,
that from our bonds we might be freed.
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Then save us now, by Jesus’ power,
and use the lives thy love sets free
to bring at last the glorious hour
when all men find thy liberty.
Above: An Offering Plate
Image Source = ForestWander
Text by Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)
Hymn Source = The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)
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Lord of all good, our gifts we bring to thee,
use them thy holy purpose to fulfil,
tokens of love and pledges they shall be
that our whole life is offered to thy will.
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We give our mind to understand thy ways,
hands, eyes, and voice to serve thy great design;
heart with the flame of thine own love ablaze,
till for thy glory all our powers combine.
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Father, whose bounty all creation shows,
Christ, by whose willing sacrifice we live,
Spirit, from whom all life in fullness flows,
to thee with grateful hearts ourselves we give.
Above: Pentecost Dove
Image Scanned from a Bulletin, St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia
Text by Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)
Hymn Source = The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)
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Fire of God, thou sacred flame,
Spirit who in splendour came,
let thy heat my soul refine,
till it glows with love divine.
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Breath of God, that swept in power
in the pentecostal hour,
holy breath, be thou in me
source of vital energy.
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Strength of God, thy might within
conquers sorrow, pain and sin:
fortify from evil’s art
all the gateways of my heart.
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Truth of God, thy piercing rays
penetrate my secret ways.
May the light that shames my sin
guide me holier paths to win.
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Love of God, thy grace profound
knoweth neither age nor bound:
come, my heart’s own guest to be,
dwell for evermore in me.
Above: Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev
Image in the Public Domain
Text by Robert Belgarnie Young (R. B. Y.) Scott (1899-1987)
Hymn Source = The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)
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Sing ye praises to the Father,
sing ye praises to the Son,
sing ye praises to the Spirit,
living and eternal One.
God has made us, God has blessed us,
God has called us to be true;
he is Lord of all creation,
daily making all things new.
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Join the praise of every creature,
sing with singing birds at dawn;
when the stars shine forth at nightfall,
hear their heavenly antiphon.
Praise him for the light of summer,
autumn glories, winter snows,
for the coming of the springtime
and the life of all that glows.
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Praise God on our days of gladness
for his summons to rejoice,
praise him in our times of sadness
for the comfort of his voice.
God our Father, strong and loving,
Christ our Saviour, Leader, Lord,
living God, Creator Spirit–
by thy holy name adored!
Above: The Flag of England
Image in the Public Domain
Elizabeth Rundle Charles (1828-1876), a member of The Church of England, was a poet, painter, musician, translator, hymn writer, historian, and novelist.
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Dost Thou in a Manger Lie:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/dost-thou-in-a-manger-lie/
Never Further Than Thy Cross:
https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/never-further-than-thy-cross/
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Above: Jesus in a Manger
Image in the Public Domain
Original Latin Text by Jean Mauburn (1450-1503), 1494
English Translation (1858) by Elizabeth Rundle Charles (1828-1876)
Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1940 (1943), The Episcopal Church
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Dost thou in a manger lie,
Who hast all created,
Stretching infant hands on high,
Saviour, long awaited?
If a monarch, where thy state?
Where thy court on thee to wait?
Royal purple, where?
Here no regal pomp we see;
Naught but need and penury:
Why thus cradled here?
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“Pitying love for fallen man
Brought me down thus low;
For a race deep lost in sin,
Came I into woe.
By this lowly birth of mine,
Sinner, riches shall be thine,
Matchless gifts and free;
Willingly this yoke I take,
And this sacrifice I make,
Heaping joys for thee.”
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Fervent praise would I to thee
Evermore be raising;
For thy wondrous love to me
Thee be ever praising.
Glory, glory be for ever
Unto that most bounteous Giver,
And that loving Lord!
Better witness to thy worth,
Purer praise than ours on earth,
Angels’ songs afford.
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GATHERED PRAYERS 
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