Above:  Labor Day Parade, 1910

Image Creator = Bain News Service

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-ggbain-14667

Text by Maria Matilda Penstone (1859-1910)

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928)

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1.  God bless all the workers

Laboring for men’s good,

Who in fields and cities

Seek our daily food.

Those in mines and workshops,

Those who sail the sea,

Lord, in all our labors,

May we think on Thee.

Refrain:

Lord, to all the workers

May Thy grace be given;

While on earth they labor

Lift their hearts to heaven.

2.  Jesus was a Worker,

Toiled by Joseph’s side,

Brother to all workers,

Dwelling far and wide.

Jesus! to the workers

Strength and comfort bring,

Thou dost know our labors;

Be the workers’ King!

Refrain

Above:  Metal Key

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1896) by Clara H. Scott (1841-1897)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal for Youth (1941), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), predecessor of The Hymnal for Youth (1941), lists the author of the hymn erroneously as Charles H. Scott.

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1.  Open my eyes, that I may see

Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;

Place in my hands the wonderful key

That shall unclasp, and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,

Ready, my God, Thy will to see;

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Spirit divine!

2.  Open my ears, that I may hear

Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;

And while the wave notes fall on my ear,

Everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for Thee,

Ready, my God, Thy will to see;

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Spirit divine!

3.  Open my mouth, and let me bear

Gladly thy warm truth everywhere;

Open my heart, and let me prepare

Love with Thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for Thee,

Ready, my God, Thy will to see;

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Spirit divine!

4.  Open my mind, that I may read

More of Thy love in word and deed;

What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?

Only for light from Thee I plead.

Silently now I wait for Thee,

Ready, my God, Thy will to see;

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Spirit divine!

5.  Open my way, that I may bring

Trophies of grace to Christ, my King;

Echoed in love Thy Word shall outring

Sweet as the note that angels sing.

Silently now I wait for Thee,

Ready, my God, Thy will to see;

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Spirit divine!

Above:  Old Church Building

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1850) by John Burton, Jr. (1803-1877)

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

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1.  Saviour, while my heart is tender,

I would yield that heart to Thee;

All my powers to Thee surrender,

Thine and only Thine to be.

Take me now, Lord Jesus, take me,

Let my youthful heart be Thine,

Thy devoted servant make me,

Fill my soul with love divine.

2.  Send me, Lord, where Thou wild send me,

Only do Thou guide my way,

May Thy grace through life attend me;

Gladly then shall I obey.

Let me do Thy will, or bear it,

I would know no will but Thine,

Shouldst Thou take my life, or spare it,

I that life to Thee resign.

3.  May this solemn consecration

Never once forgotten be;

Let it know no revocation,

Registered, confirmed by Thee.

Thine I am, O Lord, forever,

To Thy service set apart;

Suffer me to leave Thee never,

Seal Thine image on my heart.

Above:  Frozen Lake with Mountain

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1891) by Mary M. Brown (1856-1918)

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

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1.  It may not be on the mountain’s height,

Or over the stormy sea;

It may not be at the battle’s front

My Lord will have need of me:

But if by a still, small voice He calls

To paths that I do not know,

I’ll answer, “Dear Lord, with my hand in Thine

I’ll go where you want to go.”

Refrain:

I’ll g where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain, or plain, or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,

I’ll be what you want me to be.

2.  Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus wold have me speak;

There may be now in the path of sin

Some wanderer whom I should seek,

O Saviour, if Thou wilt be my Guide,

Though dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet,

I’ll say what you want me to say.

Refrain

3.  There’s surely somewhere a lowly place,

In earth’s harvest fields so wide,

Where I may labor through life’s short day

For Jesus, the Crucified:

So trusting my all to Thy tender care,

And knowing Thou lovest me,

I’ll do Thy will with a heart sincere,

I’ll be what you want me to be.

Refrain

Above:  Episcopal Church of the Mediator, Washington, Georgia, June 7, 2015

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1888) by Sarah Geraldina Stock (1839-1898)

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

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1.  O Master! when Thou callest,

No voice may say Thee nay,

For blest are they that follow

Where Thou dost lead the way;

In freshest prime of morning,

Or fullest glow of noon,

The note of heavenly warning

Can never come too soon.

2.  O Master! where Thou callest,

No foot may shrink in fear,

For they who trust Thee wholly

Shall find Thee ever near:

And chamber still and lonely,

Or busy harvest field,

Where Thou, Lord, rulest only,

Shall precious produce yield.

3.  O Master! whom Thou callest,

No heart may dare refuse;

‘Tis honor, highest honor,

When thou dost deign to use

Our brightest and our fairest,

Our dearest–all are Thine;

Thou who for each one carest,

We hail Thy love’s design.

4.  They who go forth to serve Thee,

We, too, who serve at home,

May watch and pray together

Until Thy Kingdom come:

In Thee for aye united,

Our song of hope we raise,

Till that blest shore is sighted

Where all shall turn to praise.

Above:  Sunrise Over the Ocean

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1922) by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

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1.  O Maker of the mighty deep

Whereon our vessels fare,

Above our life’s adventures keep

Thy faithful watch and care.

In Thee we trust, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

2.  We know not where the secret tides

Will help us or delay,

Nor where the lurking tempest hides,

Nor where the fogs are gray.

We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

3.  When outward bound we boldly sail

And leave the friendly shore,

Let not our heart of courage fail

Until the voyage is o’er.

We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

4.  When homeward bound we gladly turn,

O bring us safely there,

Where harbor-lights of friendship burn

And peace is in the air.

We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

5.  Beyond the circle of the sea,

When voyaging is past,

We seek our final port in Thee;

O bring us home at last.

In Thee we trust, whate’er befall;

Thy sea is great, our boats are small.

Above:  Palm Trees in the Morning

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1892) by Lucy Larcom (1826-1893)

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

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1.  O God, Thy world is sweet with prayer;

The breath of Christ is in the air;

We rise on Thy free Spirit’s wings,

And every thought within us sings.

2.  Thou art our Morning and our Sun,

Our work is glad, in Thee begun,

Our foot-worn path is fresh with dew,

For Thou createst all things new.

3.  O God, within us and above,

Close to us in the Christ we love,

Through him, our only Guide and way,

May heavenly life be ours today.

Above:  The Hymn

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1933), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words (1928) by Nancy Byrd Turner (1880-1971) for The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/feast-of-nancy-byrd-turner-july-28/

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1.  O Son of Man, who walked each day

A humble road serene and strong,

Go with me now upon life’s way,

My Comrade all the journey long.

2.  If light and joy should be my part,

Then share with me the shining hour;

If clouds should come, speak to my heart

Thy word of comfort, love, and power.

3.  So shall I walk in happiness,

So shall my task with love be fraught,

If Thou art near to mark and bless

The labor done, the beauty wrought.

4.  O Son of God, who came and shed

A light for all the ages long,

Thy company shall make me glad,

Thy fellowship shall keep me strong!

A Slovenian Forest in Spring

Image Source = Mihael Simonic

(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spring_forest,_near_Planinsko_polje.jpg)

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words by Arthur Christopher Benson (1862-1925), British academic, poet, and author

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1.  The spring again is here;

Life wakes from winter’s gloom;

In field and forest far and near

Sweet opening flowerets bloom.

2.  O mystery strange and sweet!

That life so dumbly bound

Should rise, our thankful gaze to greet,

And break from underground.

3.  The morn is fresh and bright,

The slow dark hours depart;

Let days unstained and pure delight

Bring sunshine to the heart.

4.  Lord, touch our careless eyes;

New life, new ardors bring,

That we may read Thy mysteries,

The wonder of Thy spring.

Cherry Blossoms, Washington, D.C.

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words by William Howse Groser (1834-1925), British Congregationalist businessman, poet, author, Christian educator, and amateur scientist

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1.  A song of spring once more more we sing

As winter flies away,

And changeful hours sun and showers

To weave a crown for May:

With heart and voice we all rejoice

On this returning day.

With heart and voice we all rejoice

On this returning day.

2.  For once again the promise strain

Floats down from days of yore,

That fruits of earth shall wake to birth,

To bless the toiler’s store:

Each annual round with bounties crowned

Till time shall be no more.

Each annual round with bounties crowned

Till time shall be no more.

3.  Thee, Lord, we praise for springtide days,

And life’s yet fairer spring;

These golden hours, these opening powers,

To Thy glad service bring:

Thine own to be, from sin set free–

Our Father, Saviour, King!

Thine own to be, from sin set free–

Our Father, Saviour, King!

4.  Though foes may throng, Lord, make us strong–

A firm, unfaltering band–

The good to seek, the truth to speak,

And for the right to stand;

Till, duty done, and victory won,

We gain the Better Land.

Till, duty done, and victory won,

We gain the Better Land.