Above:  Easter Cross, by Jakob Häne

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1916) by Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931)

Hymn Source = The Evangelical Hymnal (1917), Evangelical Synod of North America

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Lord, I would praise Thee for Thy great salvation;

My soul is filled with happy exultation,

Its chief enjoyment, to proclaim the story

Of Thy great glory.

+++++

Lord, I would serve Thee in complete surrender,

And to Thy great cause my best efforts tender;

Give me a spirit, Thy control possessing,

Serving and blessing.

+++++

Lord, I would love Thee, Thou art love deserving,

For Thou dost keep me with a grace preserving;

Fill Thou my cold heart with devotion burning

And for Thee yearning.

+++++

Lord, I would trust Thee in my dying hour;

Have Thee enfold me by Thy love and power;

I shall not fear then to go forward bravely,

For Thou wilt save me.

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Above:  The New Jerusalem, from a fresco by Giusto de’ Monabuio, in the baptistry, Padua, Italy

Image in the Public Domain

German Text (1697) by Ludwig Andreas Gotter (1661-1735)

English Translation (1912) by Rudolph A. John (1859-1938)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1941), of the Evangelical and Reformed Church

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I will ever sing Thy praises,

Mighty God and gracious King;

Glad my heart its tribute raises,

And to Thee my psalms I sing;

Thou art King of all creation,

Every land and every nation;

“Thousand, thousand thanks to Thee,

Mighty God,” my song shall be!

+++++

All the people shall proclaim Thee,

Sing Thy praise from shore to shore;

Every human heart shall name Thee,

God and King forevermore;

On Thy throne in heaven vaulted,

In Thy majesty exalted,

“Thousand, thousand thanks to Thee,

Mighty God,” my song shall be!

+++++

When at last my feet have found Thee,

When at last I am Thine own;

When the ransomed hosts surround Thee,

On Thy great eternal throne;

When in yonder land of glory

Angels tell redemption’s story,

“Thousand, thousand thanks to Thee,

Mighty God,” my song shall be!

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Above:  Midnight Sun

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)

Hymn Source = Common Praise (1998), the Anglican Church of Canada

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When the morning stars together their creator’s glory sang,

and the angel host all shouted till with joy the heavens rang,

then your wisdom and your greatness their exultant music told,

all the beauty and the splendour which your mighty works unfold.

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When in synagogue and temple voices raised their psalmist’ songs,

offering the adoration which alone to you belongs;

when the singers and the cymbals with the trumpet made accord,

glory filled the house of worship, and all knew your presence, Lord.

+++++

Voice and instrument, in union through the ages, spoke your praise,

Plainsong, tuneful tuneful hymns, and anthems told your faithful, gracious ways.

Choir and orchestra and organ each a sacred offering brought,

while inspired by your Spirit, poet and composer wrought.

+++++

Lord, we bring our gift of music; tough our lips and fire our hearts,

teach our minds and train our senses, fit us for this sacred art.

Then with skill and consecration we would serve you, Lord, and give

all our powers to glorify you, and, in serving, fully life.

Above:  Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Robert Belgarnie Young (R. B. Y.) Scott (1899-1987)

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

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Sing ye praises to the Father,

sing ye praises to the Son,

sing ye praises to the Spirit,

living and eternal One.

God has made us, God has blessed us,

God has called us to be true;

he is Lord of all creation,

daily making all things new.

+++++

Join the praise of every creature,

sing with singing birds at dawn;

when the stars shine forth at nightfall,

hear their heavenly antiphon.

Praise him for the light of summer,

autumn glories, winter snows,

for the coming of the springtime

and the life of all that glows.

+++++

Praise God on our days of gladness

for his summons to rejoice,

praise him in our times of sadness

for the comfort of his voice.

God our Father, strong and loving,

Christ our Saviour, Leader, Lord,

living God, Creator Spirit–

by thy holy name adored!

Above:  Christ Calmeth the Tempest, by John Martin

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Frank Mason North (1850-1935)

Hymn Source = The Methodist Hymnal (1905), Methodist Episcopal Church and Methodist Episcopal Church, South

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Jesus, the calm that fills my breast,

No other heart than thine can give;

This peace unstirred, this joy of rest,

None but thy loved ones can receive.

+++++

My weary soul has found a charm

That turns to blessedness my woe;

Within the shelter of thine arm,

I rest secure from storm and foe.

+++++

In desert wastes I feel no dread,

Fearless I walk the trackless sea;

I care not where my way is led,

Since all my life is life with thee.

+++++

O Christ, through changeful years my Guide,

My Comforter in sorrow’s night,

My friend, when friendless–still abide,

My Lord, my Counselor, my Light.

+++++

My time, my powers, I give to thee;

My inmost soul ’tis thine to move;

I wait for thy eternity,

I wait, in peace, in praise, in love.

Above:  Sunset, Athens, Georgia, June 16, 2018

Photographer = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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

Text (1938) by Robert Balgarnie Young (R. B. Y.) Scott (1899-1987)

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Eternal, Unchanging, we sing to thy praise:

thy mercies are endless, and righteous thy ways;

thy servants proclaim the renown of thy name

who rulest omnipotent, ever the same.

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Again we rejoice in the world thou hast made,

thy mighty creation in beauty arrayed,

we thank thee for live, and we praise thee for joy,

for love and for hope that no power can destroy.

+++++

We praise thee for Jesus, our Master and Lord,

the might of his Spirit, the truth of his word,

his comfort in sorrow, his patience in pain,

the faith sure and steadfast that Jesus shall reign.

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Above:  Icon of Christ Pantocrator

Scanned by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Original Syraic Text by St. Ephrem of Edessa (306/307-373)

English Translation by J. Howard Rhys (b. 1917)

English Translation adapted and altered by F. Bland Tucker (1895-1984)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982 (1985), The Episcopal Church

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From God Christ’s deity came forth, his manhood from humanity;

his priesthood from Melchizedek, his royalty from David’s tree:

praised be his Oneness.

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He joined with guests at wedding feast, yet in the wilderness did fast;

he taught within the temple’s gates; his people saw him die at last:

praised be his teaching.

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The dissolute he did not scorn, nor turn from those who were in sin,

he for the righteous did rejoice but bade the fallen to come in:

praised be his mercy.

++++++

He did not disregard the sick; to simple ones his word was given;

and he descended to the earth and his work done, went up to heaven:

praised be his coming.

++++++

Who then, my Lord, compares to you?  The Watcher slept, the great was small,

the Pure baptized, the Life who died, the King abased to honor all:

praised by your glory.

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Above:  Clouds

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text (1680) by Joachim Neander (1650-1680)

English Translation (1938) by William John Schaefer (1891-1976)

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

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Wondrous King, all-glorious,

Sov’reign Lord victorious,

Oh, receive our praise with favor!

From Thee welled God’s kindness

Tho’ we in our blindness

Strayed from Thee, our blessed Savior.

Strengthen Thou,

Help us now;

Let our tongues be singing,

Thee our praises bringing.

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

Heavens, spread the story

Of our Maker’s glory,

All the pomp of earth obscuring,

Sun, thy rays be sending,

Thy bright beams expending,

Light to all the earth assuring.

Moon and star,

Praise afar

Him who glorious made you;

The vast heavens aid you.

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

O my soul, rejoicing,

Sing, thy praises voicing,

Sing, with hymns of faith adore Him!

All who here have being,

Shout, your voices freeing,

Bow down in the dust before Him.

He is God Sabaoth;

Praise alone the Savior,

Here and there forever.

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

Hallelujahs render

To the Lord most tender,

Te who know and love the Savior.

Hallelujahs sing ye,

Ye redeemed, oh, bring ye

Hearts that yield Him glad behavior.

Blest are ye

Endlessly;

Sinless there forever,

Ye shall laud Him ever.

Above:  Mountain Path

Image in the Public Domain

Text (no later than 1920) by Walter Russell Bowie (1882-1969)

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

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Lord, through changing days, unchanging,

Thou the light our fathers knew,

Through our widening ways, far ranging,

Let Thy splendor claim us too;

Go beside us,

Lead and guide us,

To whatever things are true.

+++++

Be the path through vale, up mountain,

Through the cloud, or through the blue,

By smooth field and silver fountain

Or parched desert struggled through;

Hold before us,

Kindle o’er us,

Whatsoever things are true.

+++++

Past all sham of small succeeding

Sordid gains that call and woo,

Lift us by the mighty leading

Fit for Thine aspiring few;

Hold us serving,

All unswerving,

Whatsoever things are true.

Above:  Sunlight

Image in the Public Domain

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

Text (1930), the Harry Thomas Stock (1891-1958). for a vesper service at a summer youth conference; published in The Congregationalist in the issue of February 12, 1931

Stock was a U.S. Congregationalist then (after the merger) Congregational Christian minister active in the institutional life of both denominations.  He also taught church history at Chicago Theological Seminary (1917-1922) and was deeply involved in the Christian education of young people.  Stock also received D.D. degrees from Piedmont College (1931), Knox College (1939), and Chicago Theological Seminary (1940).  From 1938 to 1958 Stock served as the General Secretary of the Division of Christian Education of the Board of Home Missions of the Congregational Christian Churches.

 This was the only hymn he wrote.

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O gracious God, whose constant care

Supplies our golden days,

Whose joyous fellowship we share

At work, at rest, in play and prayer–

Accept our heart-felt praise.

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We thank thee, Father, for each word,

Each thought, revealing truth;

For prophet voices gladly heard,

For daring dreams, for friends who stirred

The fragile wills of youth.

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Companion of our vesper hour,

Renew in us each day

Our lofty purpose, grant us power

That worthy thoughts in deeds may flower,

In Christlike lives, we pray.

+++++

Surround us through temptation’s maze

When artful foes assail;

Help us a peaceful path to blaze,

To lead mankind in nobler ways,

Give strength–we would not fail!