Loving God, we remember the enduring and faithful witness of N.

and of all others who have steadfastly refused to condone or commit violence during times of war,

and who have become martyrs rather than betray their principles.

In our own day, we pray for those who continue to suffer for this reason,

and for those who persecute them.

May oppressors recognize the errors of their ways and cease to oppress.

May mutual respect and forbearance triumph over intolerance, anger, and hatred.

May divine love prevail.

In the Name of God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Jeremiah 38:1-13

Psalm 141

Revelation 7:9-17

Luke 6:20-26

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

MAY 7, 2019 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINT DOMITIAN OF HUY, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP

THE FEAST OF HARRIET STARR CANNON, FOUNDRESS OF THE COMMUNITY OF SAINT MARY

THE FEAST OF JOSEPH ARMITAGE ROBINSON, ANGLICAN DEAN, SCHOLAR, AND HYMN WRITER

THE FEAST OF SAINT ROSA VENERINI, FOUNDRESS OF THE VENERINI SISTERS; MENTOR OF SAINT LUCIA FILIPPINI, FOUNDRESS OF THE RELIGIOUS TEACHERS FILIPPINI

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Above:  Riverside Church and Grant’s Tomb, New York, New York

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn (1930) by Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969), for the opening of the Riverside Church, New York, New York, in 1930

Hymn Sources = The Hymnal (1941), Evangelical and Reformed Church; Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (1969), Moravian Church in America

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God of grace and God of glory,

On Thy people pour Thy power;

Crown Thine ancient church’s story;

Bring her bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage,

For the facing of this hour,

For the facing of this hour.

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Lo! the hosts of evil round us

Scorn Thy Christ, assail his ways!

From the fears that long have bound us

Free our hearts to faith and praise:

Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage,

For the living of these days,

For the living of these days.

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Cure Thy children’s warring madness,

Bend our pride to Thy control;

Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

Rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage,

Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,

Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

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Set our feet on lofty places;

Gird our lives that they may be

Armored with all Christlike graces

In the fight to set men free.

Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage,

That we fail not man nor Thee!

That we fail not man nor Thee!

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Save us from weak resignation

To the evils we deplore;

Let the search for Thy salvation

Be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage

Serving Thee Whom we adore,

Serving Thee Whom we adore.

Above:  Apotheosis of War, by Vasily Vereshchagin

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnbook of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971)

Text (1937, 1939) by Robert Balgarnie Young (R. B. Y.) Scott (1899-1987)

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O day of God, draw nigh

in beauty and in power;

come with thy timeless judgement

now to match our present hour.

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Bring to our troubled minds,

uncertain and afraid,

the quiet of a steadfast faith,

calm of a call obeyed.

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Bring justice to our land,

that all may dwell secure,

and finely build for days to come

foundations that endure.

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Bring to our world of strife

thy sovereign word of peace,

that war may haunt the earth no more

and desolation cease.

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O day of God, draw nigh,

as at creation’s birth;

let there be light again, and set

thy judgements in the earth.

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Above:  Landscape with the Parable of the Sower, by Pieter Brueghel the Elder

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1897) by Washington Gladden (1836-1918)

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), National Council of Congregational Churches in the United States

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Behold a Sower!  from afar

He goeth forth with might;

The rolling years his furrows are,

His seed the growing light;

For all the just his word is sown,

It springeth up alway;

The tender blade is hope’s dawn,

The harvest, love’s new day.

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O Lord of life, to thee we lift

Our hearts in praise for those,

Thy prophets, who have shown thy gift

Of grace that ever grows,

Of truth that spreads from shore to shore,

Of wisdom’s widening ray,

Of light that shineth more and more

Unto thy perfect day.

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Shine forth, O Light, that we may see,

With hearts all unafraid,

The meaning and the mystery

Of things that thou hast made:

Shine forth, and let the darkling past

Beneath thy beam grow bright;

Shine forth, and touch the future vast

With thine untroubled light.

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Light up thy Word; the fettered page

From killing bondage free;

Light up our way; lead forth this age

In love’s large liberty!

O Light of light!  within us dwell,

Through us thy radiance pour,

That word and life thy truths may tell,

And praise thee evermore.

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Above:  Donations for Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Decatur, Georgia, June 11, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1812) by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

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

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Jesus, our best beloved Friend,

Draw out our souls in pure desire;

Jesus, in love to us descend,

Baptize us with Thy Spirit’s fire.

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On Thy redeeming Name we call,

Poor and unworthy though we be;

Pardon and sanctify us all;

Let each Thy full salvation see.

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Our souls and bodies we resign,

To fear and follow Thy commands;

O take our hearts, our hearts are Thine,

Accept the service of our hands.

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Firm, faithful, watching unto prayer;

May we Thy blessed will obey;

Toil in Thy vineyard here, and bear

The heat and burden of the day.

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Yet, Lord, for us a resting-place

In heaven, at Thy right hand prepare;

And till we see Thee face to face,

Be all or conversation there.

Above:  St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Milledgeville, Georgia, May 7, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1833) by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (1969), Moravian Church in America

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God is in His holy temple;

All the earth keep silence here!

Worship Him in truth and spirit,

Reverence Him with godly fear!

Holy, holy,

Lord of hosts, our Lord, appear.

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God in Christ reveals His presence,

Throned upon the mercy-seat;

Saints, rejoice; and sinners, tremble;

Each prepare his God to meet;

Lowly, lowly,

Bow adoring at His feet.

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Hail Him here with songs of praises;

Him with prayers of faith surround;

Hearken to His glorious Gospel,

While the preacher’s lips expound;

Blessed, blessed,

They who know the joyful sound!

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Though the heaven and heaven of heavens,

O Thou Great Unsearchable,

Are too mean to comprehend Thee,

Thou with man art pleased to dwell;

Welcome, welcome,

God with us, Immanuel!

Above:  All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, May 14, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text by James Montgomery (1771-1854)

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

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Command Thy blessing from above,

O God, on all assembled here;

Behold us with a Father’s love,

While we look up with filial fear.

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Command Thy blessing, Jesus, Lord,

May we Thy true disciples be,

Speak to each heart Thy mighty word:

Say to the weakest, Follow Me.

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Command Thy blessing in this hour,

Spirit of truth, and fill this place

With wounding and with healing power,

With quickening and confirming grace.