Above:  Autumn Trees

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1863) by Greville Phillimore (1821-1884)

Hymn Source = The Presbyterian Hymnal (1874), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

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Summer ended, harvest o’er,

Lord! to thee our song we pour,

For the valley’s golden yield,

For the fruits of tree and field;

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For the promise ever sure

That while heaven and earth endure

Seed-time, harvest, cold and heat

Shall their yearly round complete;

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For the care which, while we slept,

Watch o’er field and furrow kept,

Watch o’er all the buried grain,

Soon to burst to life again.

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When the reaping angels bring

Tares and wheat before the King,

Jesus! may we gathered be

In the heavenly barn to thee.

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Then the angel-cry shall sound,

Praise the Lamb; the lost are found;

And the answering song shall be,

Alleluia, praise to thee–

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Praise to thee, the toil is o’er;

Blight and curse shall be no more;

Lo! the mighty work is done:

Glory to the three in one.

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Above:  Part of the Rough Draft of This Post

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Beloved God of nature, who causes the natural cycles to repeat

year after year, causing good things to happen in due season,

thank you for Autumn.

Thank you for the cooler temperatures,

the colorful leaves,

and the leafy carpet on the ground.

Thank you for the refreshment which this season brings after Summer.

And thank you for the delightful and beneficial activities

which occur in the cooler weather.

In your name we pray.  Amen.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

OCTOBER 18, 2013 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST, PHYSICIAN

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http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/a-prayer-of-thanksgiving-for-autumn/

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Above:  Part of the Hymn

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Hymnbook (1955), prepared by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Church in America, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., the United Presbyterian Church of North America, and the Presbyterian Church in the United States

Original words by Claudius Matthias (1740-1815), a German Lutheran poet

English translation by Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878), a member of the Church of England and a teacher of singing

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1.  We plow the fields, and scatter

The good seed on the land,

But it is fed and watered

By God’s almighty hand;

He sends the snow in winter,

The warmth to swell the grain,

The breezes and the sunshine,

And soft refreshing rain.

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above;

Then thank the Lord,

O thank the Lord

For all His love.

2.  He only is the Maker

Of all things near and far;

He paints the wayside flower,

He lights the evening star;

The winds and waves obey Him,

By Him the birds are fed;

Much more to us, His children,

He gives our daily bread.

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above;

Then thank the Lord,

O thank the Lord

For all His love.

3.  We thank thee, then, O Father,

For all things bright and good;

The seed-time and the harvest,

Our life, our health, our food;

Accept the gifts we offer,

For all Thy love imparts,

And what Thou most desirest,

Our humble, thankful hearts.

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above;

Then thank the Lord,

O thank the Lord

For all His love.

Autumn Tree

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Parish School Hymnal (1926), of the United Lutheran Church in America

Autumn is here now, according to both the calendar and the weather.  So I share the following seasonal hymn (from 1871) by the Rt. Rev. William W. How (1823-1897), first (Anglican) Bishop of Wakefield, in England.  One of the great pleasures of my life is exploring the pages of old hymnals and finding hymns new hymnals no longer include.  As a student of history and liturgy, I consider many of these old sacred songs as treasures to preserve.

KRT

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1.  The year is swiftly waning;

the summer days are past;

And life, brief life, is speeding;

The end is nearing fast.

2.  The ever-changing seasons

In silence come and go;

But Thou, Eternal Father,

No time or change canst know.

3.  O pour Thy grace upon us,

That we may worthier be,

Each year that passes o’er us,

To dwell in heaven with thee.

4.  Behold the bending orchards

With bounteous fruit are crowned;

Lord, in our hearts more richly

Let heavenly fruits abound.

5.  O by each mercy sent us,

And by each grief and pain,

By blessings like the sunshine,

And sorrows like the rain.

6.  Our barren hearts make fruitful

With every goodly grace,

That we Thy Name may hallow,

And see at last Thy face.