Above:  Cathedral Ruins

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Hymnal for Church and Home (1938), Danish Evangelical Lutheran Synods in America

Original Text by Wilhelm Andreas Wexels (1797-1866)

English Translation by Soren Damsgaard Rodholm (1877-1951)

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1.  Some day, I know, the mist that is veiling

Shall roll away and darkness disappear

Before the day with radiance never failing,

On which my path shall lie before me clear.

2.  Some day, I know, all mysteries perplexing,

Which here I never quite could understand,

With all my problems yet unsolved and vexing,

Shall be revealed, and I shall see God’s hand.

3.  Some day, I know, all sorrow shall have vanished,

All wounds be healed and ev’ry want supplied.

All tears shall cease, all sighs for aye be banished;

In love’s embrace all unrest shall subside.

4.  Some day, I know, I shall appear before Him

Whom here I hold in love’s and faith’s embrace.

Shall humbly kneel and gratefully adore Him,

And with mine eyes behold Him face to face.

5.  Some day, I know, for sin no longer slaving,

Each tho’t and word and deed unstained and pure,

I shall not even fear a sinful craving

My purity and bliss might e’er obscure.

6.  Some day, I know, in yonder realms of glory,

I, with the friend I found while on the way,

Shall speak of that new life and tell the story

Of this old life, dimmed like a dream by day.

7. My Savior, give my heart this sweet conviction

Each time the way seems long and full of pain,

That it may lighten ev’ry deep affliction

And cause a smile to shine through tears again.

Above:  St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, December 16, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

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

Original Danish words by Nikolai Grundtvig (1783-1872)

English Translation by S. D. Rodholm (1877-1951)

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1.  Blossom as a rose shall here

All the desert places,

Blossom when the golden year

Shines on sadden’d faces.

Glory crowns proud Lebanon,

Carmel’s height has splendor won,

Flowers bloom in Sharon.

2.  Sight is given to the blind

And their eyes shall glisten;

Ev’ry mute his voice shall find,

All the deaf shall listen;

Like the hart the lame shall leap,

Zion never more shall weep,

Peace reign forever.

3.  Thus Isaiah prophesied

In the days of sadness.

Ages passed, then far and wide

Spread the news of gladness:

Christ is here, with us He stands,

Changing with His loving hand

Desert wastes to Eden.

4.  Hail our King at God’s right hand,

Jesus and His Spirit

Lead us to the promised land

We by faith inherit.

And though death by drawing near,

Words of life the deaf shall hear;

Mutes shall sing His praises.

Above:  The Right Reverend Keith Whitmore, Assistant Bishop of Atlanta, at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 28, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5872391793912748097/5872401213900178610?banner=pwa&pid=5872401213900178610&oid=114749828757741527421)

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

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.  Lord Jesus Christ, receive me now,

As with a contrite heart I bow

Before Thine altar, blessed Lamb,

Who bore my sorrow, sin, and shame.

2.  I am today my Savior’s guest

Bethink, my soul, the honor blest,

That He, thy lord, will sup with thee,

And will Himself thy nurture be.

3.  To thee He offers with the bread

His body which for sin hast paid,

And with the wine, the precious blood,

He shed for thine eternal good.

4.  How this is done, I cannot tell,

He did not on its myst’ry dwell.

No mind the secret can perceive;

It is enough that I believe.

5.  Rejoice, then, O my soul, today,

That God’s anointed servant may

Extend to thee the gift most free,

Through which the Lord unites with thee.

6.  O Lord, I offer Thee my soul

To nourish, strengthen, and make whole.

Uphold me by Thy means of grace,

Until I see Thee face to face.

Above:  The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, Bishop of Atlanta, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Columbus, Georgia, August 25, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5916455942624022593/5916470796669857442?banner=pwa&pid=5916470796669857442&oid=114749828757741527421)

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

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.  O dearest Lord, receive from me

The heartfelt thanks I offer Thee,

Who thro’ Thy body and the Thy blood,

Hast wrought my soul’s eternal good.

2.  Break forth, my soul, in joy and praise,

What wealth is mine this day of days!

My Jesus dwells within my soul;

Let ev’ry tongue His grace extol.

Above:  St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, Suwanee, Georgia, September 8, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5921622533790876561/5921685780307812162?banner=pwa&pid=5921685780307812162&oid=114749828757741527421)

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

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.  I come, invited by Thy word,

To kneel before Thine altar, Lord.

Receive me, then, and bid me stay

With Thee, the Life, the Truth, the Way.

2.  Oh, grant my soul the heav’nly food,

Thy blessed body and Thy blood.

Enrich me thro’ this means of grace

And make my heart Thy dwelling place.

3.  Forgive my sins, supply my need,

Forget, forget each wrongful deed.

Do Thou in love with me abide

And let Thy Spirit be my Guide.

Above:  St. Mary and Martha of Bethany Episcopal Church, Buford, Georgia

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5809999763099999377/5810005412084850418?banner=pwa&pid=5810005412084850418&oid=114749828757741527421)

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

English Translation by Jens Christian Aaberg (1877-1970)

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.  Softly now the day is ending,

Night o’er hill and vale descending;

I will kneel before Thee, Lord.

Unto Thee my thanks I render

That Thou didst, in mercy tender,

Life and peace to me accord.

2.  May Thy Church Thy peace inherit;

Guide our leaders by Thy Spirit;

Give our country strength and peace.

To the sinner, sad and dreary,

To each Christian, faint and weary,

Give Thou solace and surcease.

3.  Keep me, Jesus, while I slumber,

Free from perils without number;

Shield me, Master, in Thy might,

That, released from sin and sorrow,

I may sing this song tomorrow:

Jesus was my sun this night.

Above:  St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Calhoun, Georgia, December 23, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5825240878282493873/5825246650333287986?banner=pwa&pid=5825246650333287986&oid=114749828757741527421)

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

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.  There came a message from the sky,

God hath the earth befriended,

His Son who dwells in heaven high,

By angel hosts attended,

Will now your flesh and blood put on

As David’s Son,

Your wretched state is ended.

2.  It first to Nazareth did come

By Gabriel expounded,

To Mary, in her humble home,

So wonderful it sounded;

O Mary, hail, thou shalt not fear,

The Lord is near,

To Thee hath grace abounded!

3.  The Holy Spirit shall to thee

His boundless power render,

Abundant shall the mercy be

From Jacob’s house be given;

He shall extend to ev’ry race

His reign of grace,

His kingdom, like a leaven.

4.  The Holy Spirit shall to thee

His boundless power render,

Abundant shall the mercy be

From Him, thy strong Defender;

This Child is therefore from above,

Whom thou shalt love

As mother kind and tender.

5.  Come, Christmas Child, and be my guest,

Give me Thy Holy Spirit,

Prepare my heart and make it blest

Forever through Thy merit,

That I at last may dwell with Thee,

Thy kingdom see,

And all its gifts inherit.

Above:  St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, Suwanee, Georgia, September 8, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

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

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.  The Sun arises now

In light and glory

And gilds the rugged brow

Of mountains hoary;

Be glad, my soul, and lift

Thy voice in singing

To God from earth below,

Thy heart with joy aglow

And praises ringing.

2.  Like countless grains of sand,

Beyond all measure,

And wide the sea and land

Is Heaven’s treasure

Of grace which God anew

Each day bestoweth,

And which like pouring rain

Into my soul again

Each morning floweth.

3.  He has throughout the night

My home surrounded

With angel hosts of light

And pow’r unbounded,

So I with mine did rest

In peaceful slumber

Until from deep repose

The day again arose

From darkness somber.

4.  Keep Thou my soul today

From sin and blindness,

Surround me on my way

With loving kindness,

And fill my heart, O God,

With joy from heaven,

I then shall ask no more

Than what Thou has of yore

In wisdom given.

Above:  St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dunwoody, Georgia, Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5747363209258926353/5748472049901340130?banner=pwa&pid=5748472049901340130&oid=114749828757741527421)

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

English Translation by S. D. Rodholm

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.  Come, Holy Spirit, Truth divine,

And witness bear that Christ is mine,

And that I trust no other name

To save my soul from sin and shame.

2.  Come, Holy Spirit, Light divine,

And let Thy light within me shine,

That from the way of God I may

Not even for a moment stray.

3.  Come, Holy Spirit, from above,

Imbue us with the Father’s love,

And lend to us Thy voice of grace

To comfort every tribe and race.

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!