Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 2, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1887) by Marianne Hearn (1834-1909)

Hymn Source = New Worship and Song (1942), Congregational Christian Churches (U.S.A.)

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Just as I am, thine own to be,

Friend of the young, who lovest me,

To consecrate myself to thee,

O Jesus Christ, I come.

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In the glad morning of my day,

My life to give, my vows to pay,

With no reserve and no delay,

With all my heart, I come.

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I would live ever in the light,

I would work ever for the right,

I would serve thee with all my might;

Therefore, to thee, I come.

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Just as I am, strong and free,

To be the best that I can be

For truth, and righteousness, and thee,

Lord of my life, I come.

Above:  A Baptismal Font

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1812) by Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

Hymn Sources = The Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927), Presbyterian; and Handbook to The Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927)

The first line of the hymn in its original version is “By cool Siloam’s shady fountain.”  In the version published in 1827, however, “fountain” became “rill.”

Heber based the hymn on Luke 2:40 and entitled it “Christ a pattern for children.”

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By cool Siloam’s shady rill

How sweet the lily grows!

How sweet the breath, beneath the hill,

Of Sharon’s dewy rose!

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Lo! such the child whose early feet

The paths of peace have trod,

Whose secret heart with influence sweet

Is upward drawn to God.

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By cool Siloam’s shady rill

The lily must decay;

The rose that blooms beneath the hill

Must shortly fade away.

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And soon, too soon, the wintry hour

Of man’s maturer age

Will shake the soul, with sorrow’s power,

And stormy passion’s rage!

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O Thou whose infant feet were found

Within Thy Father’s shrine,

Whose years, with changeless virtue crowned,

Were all alike divine,

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Dependent on Thy bounteous breath,

We seek Thy grace alone,

In childhood, manhood, age, and death,

To keep us still Thine own.

Above:  St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Snellville, Georgia, June 29, 2015

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America/The Evangelical Lutheran Church

Original Danish Words (1837) by Nikolai Grundtvig (1783-1872)

English Translation (1909) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  Abide among us, we implore Thee,

Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Spirit breathe!

And let the babes we bring before Thee

Now be baptized into Thy death.

2.  Lord, after Thee we Christians call them,

O let them in Thy name arise!

And keep them Thine whate’er befall them,

That they may reach Thy paradise.

3.  If Thou their earthly race shouldst lengthen,

Thy faithful servants let them prove;

If few their days, their weakness strengthen,

That they may share Thy dying love.

4.  O write Thy blessed name, dear Savior,

Upon their hearts, we Thee implore;

And on Thy palms engrave this favor,

That they are Thine for evermore.

Above:  St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church, Smyrna, Georgia, November 16, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Words (1862) by Charles Seymour Robinson (1829-1899)

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

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1.  Savior, I follow on,

Guided by Thee,

Seeing not yet the hand

That leadeth me.

Hushed by my heart and still,

Fear I no further ill,

Only to meet Thy will

My will shall be.

2.  Riven the rock for me

Thirst to relieve,

Manna from heaven falls

Fresh ev’ry eve.

Never a want severe

Causeth my eye a tear

But Thou dost whisper near,

“Only believe.”

3.  Often to Marah’s brink

Have I been brought;

Shrinking the cup to drink,

Help I have sought;

And with the prayer’s ascent

Jesus the branch hath rent,

Quickly relief hath sent,

Sweet’ning the draught.

4.  Savior, I long to walk

Closer with Thee;

Led by Thy guiding hand,

Ever to be

Constantly near Thy side,

Quickened and purified,

Living for Him who died

Freely for me.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Common Service Book (1917), United Lutheran Church in America (1918-1962) and predecessor bodies

Original German Words (1734) by Johann Jacob Rambach (1693-1735)

English Translation (1860) by Charles William Schaeffer (1813-1896)

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1.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

I’m baptized in Thy dear Name;

In the seed Thou dost inherit,

With the people Thou dost claim,

I am reckoned; I am reckoned;

And for me the Saviour came.

2.  Thou receivest me, O Father,

As a child and heir of Thine;

Jesus, Thou Who diest, yea rather

Ever livest, Thou art mine.

Thou, O Spirit, Thou, O Spirit,

Art my Guide, my Light divine.

3.  I have pledged, and would not falter,

Truth, obedience, love to Thee:

I have vows upon Thine altar

Ever Thine alone to be,

And for ever

Sin and all its lusts to flee.

4.  Gracious God, all Thou hast spoken

In this covenant shall take place;

But if I, alas! have broken

These my vows, hide not Thy face;

And from falling

O restore me by Thy grace!

5.  Lord to Thee I now surrender

All I have, and all I am;

Make my heart more true and tender,

Glorify in me Thy Name.

Let obedience

To Thy will be all my aim.

6.  Help me in this high endeavor,

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Bind my heart to Thee for ever,

Till I join the heavenly host.

Living, dying,

Let me make in Thee my boast.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 6, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Pilgrim Hymnal (1912), U.S. Congregationalist

Words (1834) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

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1.  We stand in deep repentance,

Before thy throne of love;

O God of grace, forgive us,

The stain of guilt remove;

Behold us while with weeping

We lift our eyes to thee;

And all our sins subduing,

Our Father, set us free.

2.  O shouldst thou, from us fallen,

Withhold thy grace to guide,

Forever we should wander

From thee and peace, aside;

But thou to spirits contrite

Dost light and life impart,

That man may learn to serve thee

With thankful, joyous heart.

3.  Our souls,–on thee we cast them,

Our only refuge thou!

Thy cheering words revive us,

When pressed with grief we bow;

Thou bearest the trusting spirit

Upon thy loving breast,

And givest all thy ransomed

A sweet, unending rest.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 6, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Pilgrim Hymnal (1912), U.S. Congregationalist

Words (1864) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

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1.  Take me, o my Father, take me;

Take me, save me, through thy Son;

That which thou wouldst have me, make me,

Let thy will in me be done.

2.  Long from thee my footsteps straying,

Thorny proved the way I trod;

Weary come I now, and praying,

Take me to thy love, my God.

3.  Fruitless years with grief recalling

Humbly I confess my sin;

At thy feet, O Father, falling,

To thy household take me in.

4.  Freely now to thee I proffer

This relenting heart of mine;

Freely life and soul I offer,

Gift unworthy love like thine.

5.  Father, take me; all forgiving,

Fold me to thy loving breast;

In thy love forever living

I must be forever blest.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 6, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Words (1864) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), U.S. Congregationalist

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1.  Come, Jesus, Redeemer, abide with me;

Come, gladden my spirit that waiteth for thee;

Thy smile every shadow shall chase from my heart,

And soothe every sorrow, tho’ keen be the smart.

2.  Without thee but weakness, with thee I am strong;

By day thou shalt lead me, by night be my song;

Tho’ dangers surround me, I still every fear,

Since thou, the most mighty, my Helper, art near.

3.  Thy love, O how faithful! so tender, so pure!

Thy promise, faith’s anchor, how steadfast and sure!

That love, like sweet sunshine, my cold heart can warm;

That promise make steady my soul in the storm.

4.  Breathe, breathe on my spirit, oft ruffed, thy peace;

From restless, vain wishes, bid thou my heart cease:

In thee all its longings henceforward shall end,

Till, glad, to thy presence my soul shall ascend.

Above:  The Episcopal Church of St. Mary and St. Martha of Bethany, Buford, Georgia, February 4, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5841256415309496401/5841256496004153266?banner=pwa&pid=5841256496004153266&oid=114749828757741527421)

Original Danish Words by Thomas Hansen Kingo (1634-1703)

English Translation by the Reverend George Alfred Taylor Rygh (1860-1943)

Hymn Source = Hymnal for Church and Home, Third Edition (1938), of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, denominations with Danish heritage

http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/assembled-in-this-thy-house-danish-american-lutherans-1870-1962/

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1.  He that believes and is baptiz’d

Shall see the Lord’s salvation;

Baptiz’d into the death of Christ,

He is a new creation;

Thro’ Christ’s redemption he shall stand

Among the glorious heav’nly band

Of ev’ry tribe and nation.

2.  With one accord, O God, we pray:

Grant us Thy Holy Spirit;

Look Thou on our infirmity

Thro’ Jesus’ blood and merit!

Grant us to grow in grace each day

By holy baptism that we may

Eternal life inherit!

Above:  St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Dahlonega, Georgia, July 14, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5900573726256533201/5900575391053106290?banner=pwa&pid=5900575391053106290&oid=114749828757741527421)

Original Danish Words by Nikolai Frederick Severin Grundtvig (1783-1872)

English Translation by the Reverend P. C. Paulsen (1881-1948)

Hymn Source = Hymnal for Church and Home, Third Edition (1938), of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, denominations with Danish heritage

http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/assembled-in-this-thy-house-danish-american-lutherans-1870-1962/

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1.  Thy blessings fill our earthly need,

Thy blessing is Thy people’s meed,

The blessing from Thy hands, O Lord,

Is wine upon Thy festal board.

2.  The blessing which God’s promise here,

Was given Abraham of yore,

But not until the Savior’s birth

Its fullness was reveal’d on earth.

3.  The blessing now, like dew and rain,

Doth fall on ev’ry land and main

And to the church of Christ is sent

Through our baptismal covenant.

4.  The blessing to His church on earth

Gives at the font to man new birth

And through the bread and cup imparts

The life of Jesus to our hearts.

5.  For blessings manifold give praise,

To heaven thankful voices raise!

God’s blessing then for evermore

Shall on His church like showers pour.