Above:  Ordination of Priests, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25, 2016

Image Source = Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Original German Text by Johannes de Watteville (1718-1788)

English Translation (1789)

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

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Lord Jesus, with Thy presence bless,

By land and sea, Thy witnesses;

In every danger them defend,

In every trial prove their friend.

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O may Thy Word in Christendom

Be blest and may Thy Kingdom come;

And may Thy servants joyful bring

New spoils, each day, to Thee, their King.

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Thy thoughts of peace o’er us fulfill,

Incline our hearts to do Thy will,

Thy Gospel make more fully known,

May all the world Thy goodness own.

Above:  Celebration of a New Ministry, Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus, Georgia, December 6, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5818880905816372065/5818939292959048850?banner=pwa&pid=5818939292959048850&oid=114749828757741527421)

Words by the Reverend P. C. Paulsen (1881-1948)

Hymn Source = Hymnal for Church and Home, Third Edition (1938), of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, denominations with Danish heritage

http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/assembled-in-this-thy-house-danish-american-lutherans-1870-1962/

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1.  Jesus, bless Thy congregation,

Bless the servant of Thy Word!

Work in us Thy great salvation,

Bend our will to Thine, O Lord!

By Thy grace and mercy tender

Lead us into full surrender

To Thy guiding hand of love,

To the things that are above.

2.  Lord, remind us of our calling,

Keep Thy cross before our eyes,

Lest, in snares and errors falling,

We embrace the worldly wise!

With Thy counsel safely guide us,

In temptation walk beside us,

Let us in Thy church abide

With Thee, Savior crucified!

3.  Open wide the gates of heaven

For the streams of grace to flow

Into hearts which Thou hast given

To Thy working church below!

Let Thy mercies be upon us,

Till Thy loving care has won us

From our dark and barren ways

To a life in pray’r and praise!

4.  Bless the labor of Thy servant,

Make him fruitful in Thy love,

Send him forth with spirit fervent

To proclaim the things above!

When at times his heart may fail him

And the pains of doubt assail him,

Speak to him the healing word

And increase his faith, O Lord!