Above:  The Departure of the Israelites from Egypt, By David Roberts

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1913) by Walter Russell Bowie (1882-1969)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

++++++++++++++++++++++++

God of the nations, who, from dawn of days

Hast led thy people in their widening ways,

Through whose deep purpose stranger thousands stand

Here in the borders of our promised land.

+++++

Thine ancient might rebuked the Pharaoh’s boast,

Thou wast the the shield for Israel’s marching host,

And all the ages through, past crumbling throne

And broken fetter, thou has brought thine own.

+++++

Thy hand has led across the angry sea

The eager peoples flocking to be free,

And from the breeds of earth, thy silent sway

Fashions the nations of the broadening day.

+++++

Then, for thy grace to grow in brotherhood,

For hearts aflame to serve thy destined good,

For faith and will to win what faith shall see,

God of thy people, hear us cry to thee.

Above:  The New Jerusalem and the River of Life

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1910) by Walter Russell Bowie (1882-1969), for Hymns for the Kingdom of God (1910), edited by Henry Sloane Coffin (1877-1954)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

++++++++++++++++++

O Holy City seen of John,

Where Christ the Lamb doth reign,

Within whose foursquare walls shall come

No night, nor need, nor pain,

And where the tears are wiped from eyes

That shall not weep again.

+++++

Hark, how from men whose lives are held

More cheap than merchandise,

From women struggling sore for bread,

From little children’s cries,

There swells the sobbing human plaint

That bids thy walls arise.

+++++

O shame to us who rest content

While lust and greed for gain

In street and shop and tenement

Wring gold from human pain,

And bitter lips in blind despair

Cry, “Christ hath died in vain!”

+++++

Give us, O God, the strength to build

The City that hath stood

Too long a dread, whose laws are love,

Whose ways are brotherhood,

And where the sun that shineth is

God’s grace for human good.

Above:  A Crucifix

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

Text (1868) by Samuel Wolcott (1813-1886)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Father, I own thy voice,

I seek thy loving face;

The fountain of my sweetest joys,

Is thine abounding grace,

Is thine abounding grace.

+++++

Saviour, I cling to thee,

Thou victor in the strife,

Thy bloodpaid ransom set me free,

My peace, my hope, my life,

My peace, my hope, my life.

+++++

Father, behold thy child,

Guide me, and guard from ill;

In dangers thick, through deserts wild,

Be my protector still,

Be my protector still.

+++++

Saviour, gird me with power

For thee the cross to bear;

Victorious in temptation’s hour,

Safe from the secret snare,

Safe from the secret snare.

+++++

Ancient of days, to thee,

By love celestial drawn,

My soul thy majesty shall see,

And greet her glory’s dawn,

And greet her glory’s dawn.

Above:  Christ Blessing, by Nardo di Cione

Text (1826) by Henry Ustick Onderdonk (1789-1858)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Spirit in our hearts

Is whispering, sinner, come,

The Bride, the Church of Christ, proclaims

To all his children, come.

+++++

Let him that heareth say

To all about him, come.

Let him that thirsts for righteousness

To Christ, the fountain, come.

+++++

Yes, whosoever will,

O let him freely come,

And freely drink the stream of life;

‘Tis Jesus bids him come.

+++++

Lo, Jesus, who invites,

Declares, I quickly come.

Lord! even so, I wait thy hour;

Jesus, my Saviour, come.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Above:  Christ the Merciful

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1858) by Thomas Hastings (1784-1872)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jesus, merciful and mild!

Lead me as a helpless child;

Oh no other arm but thine,

Would my weary soul recline.

+++++

Thou canst fit me, by thy grace,

For the heavenly dwelling place;

All thy promises are sure,

Ever shall thy love endure.

+++++

Then what more could I desire,

How to greater bliss aspire?

All I need, in thee I see,

Thou are all in all to me.

+++++

Jesus, Saviour all divine!

Hast thou me truly thine?

Hast thou bought me by thy blood?

Reconciled my heart to God?

+++++

Hearken to my tender prayer,

Let me thine own image bear;

Let me love thee more and more,

Till I reach heaven’s blissful shore.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Red Sunset

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1850) by Thomas Hastings (1784-1872)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now from labor and from care

Evening hours have set me free,

In the work of praise and prayer,

Lord, I would converse with thee,

O behold me from above,

Fill me with a Saviour’s love.

+++++

Sin and sorrow, guilt and woe

Wither all my earthly joys;

Nought can charm me here below,

But my Saviour’s melting voice,

Lord, forgive, thy grace restore,

Make me thine for evermore.

+++++

For the blessings of this day,

For the mercies of this hour,

For the gospel’s cheering ray,

For the Spirit’s quickening power,

Grateful notes to thee I raise,

O accept the song of praise.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Sunset Rays in Sky

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1824) by Lydia Sigourney (1791-1865)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Blessed Comforter Divine!

Whose rays of heavenly love

Amid our gloom and darkness shine,

And point our souls above;

And point our souls above.

+++++

Thou! who with “still small voice,”

Does stop the sinner’s way,

And bid the mourning saint rejoice,

Though earthly joys decay;

Though earthly joys decay.

+++++

Thou! whose inspiring breath

Can make the cloud of care,

And e’en the gloomy vale of death,

A smile of glory wear;

A smile of glory wear.

+++++

Thou! who dost fill the heart

With love to all our race,

Blest Comforter! to us impart

The blessings of thy grace,

The blessings of thy grace.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

©Photo. R.M.N. / R.-G. OjŽda

Above:  Saint John on Patmos

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1918) by Allen Eastman Cross (1864-1942)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

The tune is that of “America the Beautiful.”

The context of the writing of the hymn was World War I (1914-1918), of course.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Though Fatherland be vast and fair,

Though heaven be e’er so near,

Yet there’s a land, a land, a land,

That is to God more dear.

There is no gulf, there is no sea,

And shore is touching shore,

And mountains bow and borders blend,

And hatreds are no more.

2.  So, while we face the common sun

Upon this ancient star,

And dawn and dusk swing over us,

We’ll hail our dreams afar;

We’ll greet the glory of a land

Where love shall never tire,

We’ll light a flame, a flame, a flame,

To set the world on fire.

3.  O land of lands, dear brotherland,

The country of our dream,

The home of fealty and faith,

How marvelous you seem!

Your rivers flow in shining peace,

Your trees have healing worth,

Your stones are gentleness and grace,

Your mercy fills the earth.

4.  O Christ of freedom and of faith,

O Flame of Pentecost,

Thou hast a name o’er every name

To lead the marching host,

Till wrong be bound, and peace be crowned,

And love be on a throne,

Thou hast a name, a name, a name,

To make the stars thine own.

Above:  Forest Sky Lake Mirror

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Hymns for the Celebration of Life (1964), Unitarian Universalist Association

Text (1948) by John Albert Holmes, Jr. (1904-1962)

Hymns for the Celebration of Life makes a distinction between this author and John Haynes Holmes (1879-1964), listing the former as “John Holmes.”  Charles W. Hughes, American Hymns Old and New:  Notes on the Hymns and Biographies of the Authors and Composers (New York:  Columbia University Press, 1980, page 431) misidentifies the author of this text as the son of John Haynes Holmes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  O Lord of stars and sunlight,

Whose wind lifts up a bird,

In marching wave and leaf-fall

We hear thy patient word.

The color of thy seasons

Goes across the land.

By green upon the treetops

We know thy moving hand.

2.  O Lord of cloud and mountain,

Whose rain on rock is art,

Thy plan and care and meaning

Renew the head and heart.

Thy word and color spoken,

Thy summer noons and showers–

By these and by thy dayshine,

We know thy world is ours.

3.  O Lord of root and shading

Of boughs above our head,

We breathe in thy long breathing

Our spirit spirited.

We walk beneath thy blessing,

Thy seasons and thy way,

O Lord of stars and sunlight,

O God of this year’s day.

Above:  Thanksgiving Meal, Malachi House, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dunwoody, Georgia, November 19, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

Words (1903; publication debut = 1910) by Richard Watson Gilder (1844-1909), U.S. poet, journalist, and social reformer

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  God of the strong, God of the weak,

Lord of all hands and our own land,

Light of all souls, from thee we seek

Light from thy light, strength from thy hand.

2.  In suffering thou has made us one,

In mighty burdens one we are.

Teach us that lowliest duty done

Is highest service unto thee.

3.  Teach us, great Teacher of mankind,

The sacrifice that brings thy balm.

The love, the work that bless and bind;

Teach us thy majesty, thy calm.

4.  Teach thou, and we shall know indeed

The truth divine that maketh free;

And knowing, we may sow the seed

That blossoms through eternity.