Above:  The Adoration of the Magi, by El Greco

Image in the Public Domain

Prayer Source = A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948), the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States

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O thou, who art the Light of the world, the Desire of all nations, and the Shepherd of souls;

let thy light shine in the darkness, that all the ends of the earth may see thy salvation;

by the lifting up of thy cross, gather the peoples to thine obedience,

so that there may be one flock, one shepherd, one holy kingdom of righteousness and peace.

Stir our hearts that by our prayers, our gifts, and our labors,

we may have part in the spreading of thy gospel;

and hasten the time when all peoples shall worship thee;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

–Page 42

Above:  The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, by Peter Paul Rubens

Image in the Public Domain

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We Sing the Glorious Conquest Before Damascus Gate:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/we-sing-the-glorious-conquest-before-damascus-gate/

“Lord, What Wilt Thou Have Me to Do?” (Acts 9-6):

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/lord-what-wilt-thou-have-me-to-do-acts-9-6/

Saul, Why Such Furious Hate, Such Blinded Zeal:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/saul-why-such-furious-hate-such-blinded-zeal/

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Above:  The Conversion of St. Paul, by Michelangelo Buonarroti

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Greville Phillimore (1821-1884)

Hymn Source = In Memoriam (1884)

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Saul, why such furious hate, such blinded zeal?

Lift up thine eyes, the dazzling light behold;

Lo, Christ doth once again Himself reveal;

To stay the wolf which leaps into His fold!

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O tender love, that had such watchful care

From the fierce foe His chosen ones to keep;

O wondrous grace, which could the foe ensnare,

And send him on, a shepherd to the sheep.

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O Lord, shew forth Thy mercy and Thy might,

From zeal misguided keep Thy servants free;

Send from Thy holy hill Thy truth and light,

And call the disobedient back to Thee.

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So shall Thy saving health on earth be known,

So shall Thy work Thy faithful Church employ;

Cast down not forsaken–not alone,

Her day of mourning shall be turned to joy.

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Be, then, O Saviour, her defence and shield,

In the mad warfare of this world below;

Teach her on earth the Spirit’s sword to wield,

And in the world to come the crown bestow.

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Above:  Christ Cleansing a Leper, by Jean-Marie Melchior Doze

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1863) by Greville Phillimore (1821-1884)

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1913), the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America/The Evangelical Lutheran Church (1917-1960) and its immediate predecessors

Congregations of the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church/The Evangelical Lutheran Synod (1918-present) also used The Lutheran Hymnary for many years.

The Lutheran Hymnary specifies this as a hymn for the Third Sunday after Epiphany.

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O Lord of health and life, what tongue can tell,

How at Thy word were loosed the bands of hell;

How Thy pure touch removed the leprous stain,

And the polluted flesh grew clean again?

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O wash our hearts, restore the contrite soul,

Stretch forth Thy healing hand, and make us whole;

O bend our stubborn knees to kneel to Thee,

Speak but the word and we once more are free.

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Yea, Lord, we claim the promise of Thy love,

Thy love, which can all guilt, all pain remove;

Nigh to our souls Thy great salvation bring,

Then sickness hath no pang, and death no sting.

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We hail this pledge in all Thy deeds of grace,

As once disease and sorrow fled Thy face,

So when that face again unveiled we see,

Sickness, and tears, and death no more shall be.

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Then grant us strength to pray, “Thy kingdom come,”

When we shall know Thee in Thy Father’s home,

And at Thy great Epiphany adore

The co-eternal Godhead evermore.

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Above:  Christ Pantocrator

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = American Lutheran Hymnal (1930), American Lutheran Church (1930-1960) and its immediate predecessor bodies

Original German Words (1606) by Martin Behm (1557-1622)

English Translation (1863) by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)

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1.  O Jesus, King of glory!

Both David’s God and Son,

Thy realm endures forever,

In heav’n is fixed Thy throne:

Help that in earth’s dominions,

Throughout, from pole to pole,

Thy realm may spread salvation

To each benighted soul.

2.  The Eastern sages, bringing

Their tribute gifts to Thee,

Bear witness to Thy kingdom

And humbly bow the knee.

The Eastern star proclaims Thee,

As doth the inspired Word;

Hence joyously we hail Thee:

Our blest Redeemer, Lord!

3.  Thou art a mighty Monarch,

As by the Word we’re told,

Yet carest Thou but little

For earthly goods or gold;

On no proud steed Thou ridest,

Thou wear’st no jeweled crown,

Nor dwell’st in lordly castle,

But bearest scoff and frown.

4.  Yet art Thou decked with beauty,

With rays of glorious light;

Thou ever teem’st with goodness,

And all Thy ways are right.

Vouchsafe to shield Thy people

With Thine almighty arm,

That they may dwell in safety

From those who mean bu harm.

5.  Ah, look on me with pity,

Though I am weak and poor;

Admit me to Thy kingdom,

To dwell there, blest and sure.

Vouchsafe to keep and guide me

Secure from all my foes,

From sin, and death and Satan;

Free me from all my woes.

6.  And bid Thy Word within me

Shine as the fairest star;

Keep sin and all false doctrine

From all Thy people far;

Help us confess Thee truly,

And with Thy Christendom

Here own Thee King and Savior

And in the world to come.

Above:  The Parable of the Sower

Image in the Public Domain

Words (1920) by Anna Bernadine Dorothy Hoppe (1889-1941)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

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1.  The Sower goeth forth to sow

His seed of grain so tender,

That it may rooted be, and grow,

And bring forth fruit in splendor.

By faith He sees His harvest field

Its fruitage in abundance yield.

2.  Thou art the Sower, dearest Lord,

The world Thy field so spacious,

The seed Thou sowest is the Word

Sown by Thy hand so gracious.

From heaven above, on earth below,

That it may blossom, thrive, and grow.

3.  Let us not merely hearers be,

But doers, blessed Saviour,

Who bring forth fruit abundantly;

Grant us Thy Spirit’s favor

To treasure in believing hearts

The precious truth Thy Word imparts.

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

Image in the Public Domain

Words (1919) by Anna Bernadine Dorothy Hoppe (1889-1941)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

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1.  Heavenly Sower, Thou hast scattered

Precious seed upon Thy field,

That a harvest might be gathered,

Rich and fruitful in its yield.

Gracious Lord, Thou hast defended,

Nurtured, watered, guarded, tended,

This is so precious seed of Thine,

Springing up in soil divine.

2.  Lo, Thy field its fruits has yielded,

Where Thy kingdom’s seed was sown;

Gospel rain from drought has shielded,

Pentecostal winds have blown;

Where Thy Sun of Grace in splendor

Shed its warming rays to tender,

There Thy seed has taken root,

There it blossomed into fruit.

3.  Guard Thy gospel field, dear Master,

Tares abound upon the soil.

Save Thy harvest from disaster,

Let no foe Thy seed despoil.

When, upon Thy glad returning,

Tares and chaff are doomed to burning,

Then within Thy garner, Lord,

May the precious wheat be stored.

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This is post #1400 of GATHERED PRAYERS.

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Above:  Wedding at Cana, by Mattia Preti

Image in the Public Domain

Words (1919) by Anna Bernadine Dorothy Hoppe (1889-1941)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

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1.  Thou hast made manifest

Thy glory, welcome Bridal Guest,

Thou art Messiah, we believe;

Our adoration, Lord, receive.

2.  Be Thou our constant Guest, we pray,

O Friend of sinners, come to stay.

Our every need do Thou supply,

Till we become Thy guests on high.

3.  O heavenly Bridegroom, haste, we pray,

That long expected wedding day

When trumpets sound to call us home:

“The bridal of the Lamb hath come.”

Above:  Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, January 6, 2010

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Words (1921) by Anna Bernadine Dorothy Hoppe (1889-1941)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

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1.  Desire of every nation,

Light of the Gentiles, Thou!

In fervent adoration

Before Thy throne we bow;

Our hearts and tongues adore Thee,

Blest Dayspring from the skies.

Like incense sweet before Thee,

Permit our songs to rise.

2.  Thou Herald of the morning,

They who in darkness dwell

Behold Thy brightness dawning

O’er realms of Israel.

With glorious beams unclouded,

Thy all-transcendent light

Dispels the gloom that shrouded

Earth’s dark and dismal night.

3.  Arise and shine in splendor,

Thou bright and morning Star!

The Gentiles come to render

Their gifts from realms afar.

Thy word by prophets spoken

In truth is now fulfilled,

And yearning hearts, once broken,

With sweetest hopes are filled.

4.  Arise and bring salvation

To all who dwell below,

Let earth in jubilation

Reflect Thy radiant glow.

O long expected Saviour,

Thou Hope of Israel,

Let Gentiles gain Thy favor,

And of Thy glory tell.

5.  Our Life and Resurrection,

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art;

O shed Thy light’s reflection

To earth’s remotest part;

Let Gentile tongues confess Thee,

Rejoicing in Thy light,

The ransomed thousands bless Thee,

Thou hast dispelled the night.

Above:  Icon of the Presentation of Jesus

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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In His Temple Now Behold Him (Henry John Pye and William Cooke):

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/in-his-temple-now-behold-him/

In His Temple Now Behold Him (Johann Franck):

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/in-his-temple-now-behold-him-2/

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