Above:  St. George’s Episcopal Church, Griffin, Georgia, May 6, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/BishopWhitmoreSVisitToStGeorgeSGriffen#5739531854521413714)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1837) by John R. Wreford (1800-1881)

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1.  Lord, I believe; Thy pow’r I won,

Thy truth I would obey;

I wander comfortless and lone

When from Thy paths I stray.

2.  Lord, I believe; but gloomy fears

Sometimes bedim my sight;

I look to Thee with prayes and tears,

And cry for strength and light.

3.  Lord, I believe; yet Thou dost know

My faith is cold and weak;

Pity my frailty, and bestow

The confidence I seek.

4.  Yes, I believe; and only Thou

Canst give my doubts relief:

Lord, to Thy truth my spirit bow;

“Help Thou my unbelief!”

Above:  Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Cumming, Georgia, June 12, 2011

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/EpiscopalChurchOfTheHolySpirit#5617436918573364418)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1842) by Andrew Reed (1787-1862)

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1.  Holy Ghost, with light divine,

Shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the shades of night away,

Turn the darkness into day.

2.  Holy Ghost, with power divine,

Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;

Long has sin, without control,

Held dominion o’er my soul.

3.  Holy Ghost, with joy divine,

Cheer this saddened heart of mine,

Bid my many woes depart,

Heal my wounded, bleeding heart.

4.  Holy Spirit, all divine,

Dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down every idol throne,

Reign supreme–and reign above.

Above:  Clouds at Dusk

Image Source = Nissim

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sunset_and_Clouds.jpg)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1853) by George Rawson (1807-1889)

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1.  In the dark and cloudy day,

When earth’s riches flee away,

And the last hope will not stay,

Saviour, comfort me!

2.  When the secret idol’s gone

That my poor heart yearned upon,–

Desolate, bereft, alone,

Saviour, comfort me!

3.  Thou, who wast so sorely tried,

In the darkness crucified,

Bid me in Thy love confide;

Saviour, comfort me!

4.  Comfort me; I am cast down:

‘Tis my heavenly Father’s frown;

I deserve it all, I own,

Saviour, comfort me!

5.  So it shall be good for me

Much afflicted now to be,

If Thou wilt but tenderly,

Saviour, comfort me!

Above:  Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Cumming, Georgia, June 12, 2011

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/EpiscopalChurchOfTheHolySpirit#5617455589905054482)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1853) by George Rawson (1807-1889)

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1.  Come to our poor nature’s night

With Thy blessed inwad light,

Holy Ghost the infinite,

Comforter divine.

2.  We are sinful, cleanse us, Lord;

Sick and faint, Thy strength afford;

Lost, until by Thee restored,

Comforter divine.

3.  Like the dew Thy peace distil;

Guide, subdue our wayward will,

Things of Christ unfolding still,

Comforter divine.

4.  With us, for us, intercede,

And with voiceless groanings plead

Our unutterable need,

Comforter divine.

5.  In us, “Abba, Father,” cry;

Earnest of the bliss on high,

Seal of immortality,

Comforter divine.

6.  Search for us the depths of God;

Upwards, by the starry road,

Bear to us Thy high abode,

Comforter divine.

Above:  Holy Eucharist at Diocesan Confirmation, Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 29, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/TheEpiscopalDioceseOfAtlantaConfirmationAtTheCathedralOfStPhilip#5736964539811998594)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1826), by William Augustus Muhlenberg, Episcopal priest, liturgist, and humanitarian

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1.  Saviour! who Thy flock art feeding,

With the shepherd’s kindest care,

All the feeble gently leading,

While the lambs Thy bosom share;

2.  Now, these little ones receiving,

Fold them in Thy gracious arm;

There, we know, Thy word believing,

Only there, secure from harm.

3.  Never, from Thy pasture roving,

Let them be the lion’s prey;

Let Thy tenderness, so loving,

Keep them through life’s dangerous way;

4.  Then, within Thy fold eternal,

Let them find a resting-place;

Feed in pastures ever vernal,

Drink the rivers of Thy grace.

Above:  An Hourglass

Image Source = User:S Sepp

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wooden_hourglass_3.jpg)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1837) by William Gaskell, an English Unitarian minister and Professor of English History and Literature at Manchester New College, Manchester

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1.  Our Father! thro’ the coming year

We know not what shall be;

But we would leave without a fear

Its ord’ring all to Thee.

2.  It may be we shall toil in vain

For what the world holds fair;

And all the good we thought to gain,

Deceive and prove but care.

3.  It may be it shall darkly blend

Our love with anxious fears,

And snatch away the valued friend,

The tried of many years.

4.  It may be it shall bring us days

And nights of lingering pain;

And bid us take a farewell gaze

Of these loved haunts of men.

5.  But calmly, Lord, on Thee we rest:

No fears our trust shall move;

Thou knowest what for each is best,

And Thou art Perfect Love.

Above:  A Schooner

Image Source = Lukas Riebling

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Regina_Maris.JPG)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1865) by Edward Arthur Dayman,  priest of The Church of England and a Latinist, hymn translator, and hymnal editor

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1.  O Lord, be with us when we sail

Upon the lonely deep,

Our Guard, when the silent deck

The midnight watch we keep.

2.  We need not fear, though all around,

‘Mid rising winds, we hear

The multitude of waters surge;

For Thou, O God, art near.

3.  The calm, the breeze, the gale, the storm,

That pass from land to land,

All, all are Thine, are held within

The hollow of Thy hand.

4.  If duty calls from threatened strife

To guard our native shore,

And shot and shell are answering

The booming cannon’s roar,

5.  Be Thou the Mainguard of our host,

Till war and dangers cease;

Defend the right, put up the sword,

And through the world make peace.

6.  Across this troubled tide of life

Thyself our pilot be,

Until we reach that better land,

The land that knows no sea.

7.  To Thee, the Father, Thee the Son,

Whom earth and sky adore,

And Spirit moving on the deep,

Be praise for evermore.

Above:  Rocks Fifty Million Years Old at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Montezuma, Georgia, April 22, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/BishopWhitmoreSVisitToStMarySMontezumaGA#5734737049052214338)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1836) by Joseph Anstice (1808-1836)

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1.  O Lord, how happy should we be

If we could cast our care on Thee,

If we from self could rest;

And feel at heart that One above

In perfect wisdom, perfect love,

Is working for the best.

2.  How far from this our daily life,

How oft disturbed by anxious strife,

By sudden wild alarms;

O could we but relinquish all

Our earthly props, and simply fall

On Thine Almighty arms!

3.  Could we but kneel and cast our load,

E’en while we pray, upon our God,

Then rise with lightened cheer;

Sure that the Father, who is nigh

To still the famished raven’s cry,

Will hear in that we fear.

4.  We cannot trust Him as we should;

So chafes weak nature’s restless mood

To cast its peace away;

But birds and flowerets round us preach,

All, all the present evil teach

Sufficient for the day.

5.  Lord, make these faithless hearts of ous

Such lessons from birds and flowers;

Make them from self to cease,

Leave all things to a Father’s will,

And taste, before Him lying still,

E’en in affliction, peace.

Above:  Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia, May 13, 2012 

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/BishopWhitmoreVisitsEmmanuelEpiscopalChurchAthens#5742124077524656978)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church of the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1862) by Godfrey Thring, a priest of The Church of England

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1.  Saviour, blessed Saviour,

Listen while we sing,

Hearts and voices raising

Praises to our King;

All we have we offer;

All we hope to be,

Body, soul, and spirit,

All we yield to Thee.

2.  Nearer, ever nearer,

Christ, we draw to Thee,

Deep in adoration

Bending low the knee;

Thou for our redemption

Cam’st on earth to die;

Thou, that we might follow,

Hast gone up on high.

3.  Great, and ever greater

Are Thy mercies here,

True and everlasting

Are the glories there;

Where no pain nor sorrow,

Toil nor care is known,

Where the angel legions

Circle round Thy throne.

4.  Brighter still, and brighter,

Glows the western sun,

Shedding all its gladness

O’er our work that’s done;

Time will soon be over,

Toil and sorrow past,

May we, blessed Saviour,

Find a rest at last!

5.  Onward, ever onward,

Journeying o’er the road

Worn by saints before us,

Journeying on to God!

Leaving all behind us,

May we hasten on,

Backward never looking

Till the prize is won.

6.  Higher, then, and higher,

Bear the ransomed soul,

Earthly toils forgetting,

Saviour, to its goal;

Where in joys unthought of

Saints with angels sing,

Never weary, raising

Praises to their King.

Above:  The Vision of John of Patmos

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1864) by Godfrey Thring (1823-1903), a priest of The Church of England

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1.  The radiant morn hath passed away,

And spent too soon her golden store;

The shadows of departing day

Creep on once more.

2.  Our life is but a fading dawn,

Its glorious noon how quickly past!

Lead us, O Christ, Thou living way,

Safe home at last.

3.  O by Thy soul-inspiring grace

Uplift our hearts to realms on high;

Help us to look to that bright place

Beyond the sky,

4.  Where light and life and joy and peace

In undivided empire reign,

And thronging angels never cease

Their deathless strain;

5.  Where saints are clothed in spotless white,

And evening shadows never fall,

Where Thou, eternal Light of Light,

Art Lord of all.