Above:  Air Clouds

Image in the Public Domain

Above:  Roderic Dunkerley (1884-1966), son of William Arthur Dunkerley (1852-1941), a.k.a. John Oxenham

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

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1.  Dear Father, whom we cannot see,

We know that Thou are near;

With longing hearts we turn to Thee,

And ask that Thou wilt set us free

From war and hate and fear.

2.  Dear Father, King of love and peace,

We know that Thou art strong;

Make conflicts everywhere to cease,

Let mercy everywhere increase,

And kindness conquer wrong.

3.  Dear Father, Lord of sea and land,

We know that Thou art wise;

O make the nations understood

That only by Thy guiding hand

Can lasting peace arise.

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Above:  Icon of Christ the Merciful

Image in the Public Domain

Text (circa 1861) by Henry Harbaugh (1817-1867)

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

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1.  Jesus, I live to Thee,

The Loveliest and Best;

My life in Thee, Thy life in me,

In Thy blest love I rest.

2.  Jesus, I die to Thee,

Whenever death shall come;

To die in Thee is life to me

In my eternal home.

3.  Whether to live or die,

I know not which is best;

To live in Thee is bliss to me,

To die is endless rest.

4.  Living or dying, Lord,

I ask but to be Thine;

My life in Thee, Thy life in me,

Makes heaven forever mine.

Above:  St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, Marietta, Georgia, May 17, 2015

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1919) by Berton Braley (1882-1966)

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

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1.  Lord, we come with hearts aflame,

Seeking service in Thy Name;

All our youth and strength are Thine,

Given to help Thy work divine;

All our love and faith we bring,

They are Thine, O heavenly King.

2.  Lord of hosts, we ask Thine aid,

Keep us ever unafraid;

Hold us loyal, hold us true

To the task we have to do;

Lead us on to victory,

We shall triumph praising Thee.

3.  Lord of all, we take our stand,

Giving help at Thy command;

Eager, joyful, blithe, and strong,

Thrilled with love and filled with song;

Lord, we come with hearts aflame,

Seeking service in Thy Name.

Above:  Cathedral Ruins

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1935) by Purd Eugene Deitz (1897-1987)

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

I consulted The New Century Hymnal Companion:  A Guide to the Hymns (1998), handbook to The New Century Hymnal (United Church of Christ, 1995), and The Story of Our Hymns:  The Handbook to the Hymnal of the Evangelical and Reformed Church (1952), companion volume to The Hymnal (1941).  Dietz, raised at Zion Reformed Church, York, Pennsylvania, graduated from Central Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, entered the ordained ministry of the Reformed Church in the United States in 1921, and went on to serve at Fourth Reformed Church, Dayton, Ohio, and Trinity (Evangelical and) Reformed Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before leaving parish ministry.  As of 1952 he taught at Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, and (starting in 1949) served as the Executive Secretary of the Board of National Missions for the Evangelical and Reformed Church.  He also served on the committee for the Book of Worship (1942) of the Evangelical and Reformed Church.  Deitz also represented the Evangelical and Reformed Church at the First Assembly of the World Council of Churches (1948).  He was a minister in three denominations:  the Reformed Church in the United States(1793-1934), which merged into the Evangelical and Reformed Church (1934-1957), which merged into the United Church of Christ.

Deitz composed this hymn in while the pastor of Trinity Evangelical and Reformed Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He was organizing a youth conference themed “Christian Youth Building a New World.”  He could find no suitable hymn for the occasion, so he wrote one and set it to the tune FINLANDIA, one of his favorites.

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1.  We would be building; temples still undone

O’er crumbling walls their crosses scarcely lift;

Waiting till love can raise the broken stone,

And hearts creative bridge the human rift;

We would be building,

Master, let Thy plan

Reveal the life that God would give to man.

2.  Teach us to build; upon the solid rock

We set the dream that hardens into deed,

Ribbed with the steel that time and change doth mock,

Th’un failing purpose of our noblest creed;

Teach us to build;

O Master, lend us slight

To see the towers gleaming in the light.

3.  O keep us building, Master; may our hands

Ne’er falter when the dream is in our hearts,

When to our ears there come divine commands

And all the pride of sinful will departs;

We build with Thee,

O grant enduring worth

Until the heavenly Kingdom comes on earth.

Above:  Bowie’s Universal Display of the Naval Flags of All Nations in the World

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-pga-00276

Text (1913) by Vera Campbell

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

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1.  God of the nations, hear our call;

Thou who art Father of us all,

Show us our part in Thy great pan

For the vast brotherhood of man.

2.  Let us with earnestness of youth

Care only for pursuit of truth.

O may we feel Thy guidance still

And heed the impulse of Thy will.

3.  Thus, as Thy Kingdom cometh here,

Shall it throughout the world draw near;

And loyalty to country then

Shall reach out to include all men.

Above:  Ridge Trail

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1866) by William Tidd Matson (1833-1899)

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

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1.  Teach me, O Lord, Thy holy way,

And give me an obedient mind;

That in Thy service I may find

My soul’s delight from day to day.

2.  Guide me, O Saviour, with Thy hand,

And so control my thoughts and deeds,

That I may tread the path which leads

Right onward to the blessed land.

3.  Guard me, O Lord, that I may ne’er

Forsake the right, or do the wrong:

Against temptation make me strong,

And round me spread Thy sheltering care.

4.  Bless me in every task, O Lord,

Begun, continued, done for Thee:

Fulfill Thy perfect work in me;

And Thine abounding grace afford.

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!