Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 2, 2017

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Text (1887) by Marianne Hearn (1834-1909)

Hymn Source = New Worship and Song (1942), Congregational Christian Churches (U.S.A.)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Just as I am, thine own to be,

Friend of the young, who lovest me,

To consecrate myself to thee,

O Jesus Christ, I come.

+++++

In the glad morning of my day,

My life to give, my vows to pay,

With no reserve and no delay,

With all my heart, I come.

+++++

I would live ever in the light,

I would work ever for the right,

I would serve thee with all my might;

Therefore, to thee, I come.

+++++

Just as I am, strong and free,

To be the best that I can be

For truth, and righteousness, and thee,

Lord of my life, I come.

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

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Original Text (published in 1729) by Johann Jacob Rambach (1693-1735)

English Translation (published in the Australian Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1925) by E. Taylor, a Congregationalist minster (died 1938), altered

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  My Maker, be Thou nigh

The light of life to give

And guide me with Thine eye

While hear on earth I live.

To Thee my heart I tender

And all my pow’rs surrender;

Make it my one endeavor

To love and serve Thee ever.

Upon Thy promise I rely;

My Maker, be Thou nigh.

2.  My Savior, wash me clean

With Thy most precious blood,

That takes away all sin

And seals my peace with God.

My soul in peace abideth

When in Thy wounds it hideth.

There I find full salvation

And freedom from damnation.

Without Thee lost, defiled by sin,

My Savior, wash me clean.

3.  My Comforter, give pow’r

That I may stand secure

When in temptation’s hour

The world and sin allure.

The Son to me revealing,

Inspire my tho’t and feeling,

His Word of grace to ponder,

Nor let me from Him wander.

On me Thy gifts and graces show’r:

My Comforter, give pow’r!

4.  O Holy Trinity!

To whom I all things owe,

Thine image graciously

Within my heart bestow.

Choose me, tho’ weak and lowly,

To be Thy temple holy

Where praise shall rise unending

For grace so condescending.

O heav’nly bliss, Thine own to be,

O Holy Trinity!

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Lutheran Book of Worship (1978)

Original German Words (1657) by Johann Scheffler (1624-1677)

English Translation (1739) by John Wesley (1703-1791)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Thee will I love, my strength, my tow’r;

Thee will I love, my joy, my crown!

Thee will I love with all my pow’r,

In all thy works, and thee alone;

Thee will I love, till the pure fire

Fills all my soul with chaste desire.

2.  I thank thee, uncreated sun,

That thy bright beams on me have shined;

I thank thee, who has overthrown

My foes and healed my wounded mind;

I thank thee, whose enliv’ning voice

Bids my freed heart in thee rejoice.

3.  Uphold me in the doubted race,

Nor suffer me again to stray;

Strengthen my feet with steady pace

Still to press forward in thy way,

That all my pow’rs, with all their might,

In thy sole glory may unite.

4.  Thee will I love, my joy, my crown;

Thee will I love, my Lord, my God!

Thee will I love, beneath thy frown

Or smile, thy scepter or thy rod.

What though my flesh and heart decay?

Thee shall I love in endless day!

Above:  St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church, Smyrna, Georgia, November 16, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Words (1862) by Charles Seymour Robinson (1829-1899)

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Savior, I follow on,

Guided by Thee,

Seeing not yet the hand

That leadeth me.

Hushed by my heart and still,

Fear I no further ill,

Only to meet Thy will

My will shall be.

2.  Riven the rock for me

Thirst to relieve,

Manna from heaven falls

Fresh ev’ry eve.

Never a want severe

Causeth my eye a tear

But Thou dost whisper near,

“Only believe.”

3.  Often to Marah’s brink

Have I been brought;

Shrinking the cup to drink,

Help I have sought;

And with the prayer’s ascent

Jesus the branch hath rent,

Quickly relief hath sent,

Sweet’ning the draught.

4.  Savior, I long to walk

Closer with Thee;

Led by Thy guiding hand,

Ever to be

Constantly near Thy side,

Quickened and purified,

Living for Him who died

Freely for me.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Common Service Book (1917), United Lutheran Church in America (1918-1962) and predecessor bodies

Original German Words (1734) by Johann Jacob Rambach (1693-1735)

English Translation (1860) by Charles William Schaeffer (1813-1896)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

I’m baptized in Thy dear Name;

In the seed Thou dost inherit,

With the people Thou dost claim,

I am reckoned; I am reckoned;

And for me the Saviour came.

2.  Thou receivest me, O Father,

As a child and heir of Thine;

Jesus, Thou Who diest, yea rather

Ever livest, Thou art mine.

Thou, O Spirit, Thou, O Spirit,

Art my Guide, my Light divine.

3.  I have pledged, and would not falter,

Truth, obedience, love to Thee:

I have vows upon Thine altar

Ever Thine alone to be,

And for ever

Sin and all its lusts to flee.

4.  Gracious God, all Thou hast spoken

In this covenant shall take place;

But if I, alas! have broken

These my vows, hide not Thy face;

And from falling

O restore me by Thy grace!

5.  Lord to Thee I now surrender

All I have, and all I am;

Make my heart more true and tender,

Glorify in me Thy Name.

Let obedience

To Thy will be all my aim.

6.  Help me in this high endeavor,

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Bind my heart to Thee for ever,

Till I join the heavenly host.

Living, dying,

Let me make in Thee my boast.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 6, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Pilgrim Hymnal (1912), U.S. Congregationalist

Words (1864) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Take me, o my Father, take me;

Take me, save me, through thy Son;

That which thou wouldst have me, make me,

Let thy will in me be done.

2.  Long from thee my footsteps straying,

Thorny proved the way I trod;

Weary come I now, and praying,

Take me to thy love, my God.

3.  Fruitless years with grief recalling

Humbly I confess my sin;

At thy feet, O Father, falling,

To thy household take me in.

4.  Freely now to thee I proffer

This relenting heart of mine;

Freely life and soul I offer,

Gift unworthy love like thine.

5.  Father, take me; all forgiving,

Fold me to thy loving breast;

In thy love forever living

I must be forever blest.

Above:  Diocesan Confirmation, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 6, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Words (1864) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), U.S. Congregationalist

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Come, Jesus, Redeemer, abide with me;

Come, gladden my spirit that waiteth for thee;

Thy smile every shadow shall chase from my heart,

And soothe every sorrow, tho’ keen be the smart.

2.  Without thee but weakness, with thee I am strong;

By day thou shalt lead me, by night be my song;

Tho’ dangers surround me, I still every fear,

Since thou, the most mighty, my Helper, art near.

3.  Thy love, O how faithful! so tender, so pure!

Thy promise, faith’s anchor, how steadfast and sure!

That love, like sweet sunshine, my cold heart can warm;

That promise make steady my soul in the storm.

4.  Breathe, breathe on my spirit, oft ruffed, thy peace;

From restless, vain wishes, bid thou my heart cease:

In thee all its longings henceforward shall end,

Till, glad, to thy presence my soul shall ascend.

Above:  The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, Bishop of Atlanta, Confirming at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia, April 14, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5866769906262350785/5867547062705427890?banner=pwa&pid=5867547062705427890&oid=114749828757741527421)

Words by Ingvard M. Andersen (1888-1980)

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/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Heavenly Father, Thy children are gather’d before Thee,

Grant them Thy blessing as here in Thy house they adore Thee;

To them, accord

When they confess Thee their Lord,

Peace from above, we implore Thee.

2.  Heavenly Savior, Thy hands were so cruelly riven,

That at the font to Thee might as infants be given;

Now they are Thine,

Give them Thy blessing divine;

Feed them with manna from heaven.

3.  Heavenly Spirit, Thy temples in love Thou hast made them,

Do Thou in danger from sin and temptation aid them;

For on their way,

Dangers by night and by day

Threaten for aye to degrade them.

4.  God of our Fathers, Thy children are waiting before Thee,

Grant them Thy blessing now, here in Thy house, we implore Thee:

Lest they should roam,

Lead Thou their steps to Thy home

Where they shall ever adore Thee.

Above:  Baptism at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Dalton, Georgia, June 16, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Words by George Croly (1780-1860), an Anglican (Church of Ireland then Church of England) priest, poet, and novelist

Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary (1927), of various Old World Presbyterian denominations

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;

Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;

Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,

And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

2.  I ask no dream, no prophet-ecstasies,

No sudden rending of the veil of clay,

 No angel-visitant, no opening skies;

But take the dimness of my soul away.

3.  Hast Thou not bed me love Thee, God and King–

All, all Thine own, soul, heart, and strength, and mind?

I see Thy Cross–there teach my heart to cling:

O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

4.  Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;

Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,

To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;

Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

5.  Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,

One holy passion filling all my frame–

The baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,

My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

Above:  The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, Bishop of Atlanta, Confirms at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Dalton, Georgia, June 16, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5890154980868663217/5890580855123319042?banner=pwa&pid=5890580855123319042&oid=114749828757741527421)

Words by Edwin Hatch (1835-1889), Anglican Priest, Oxford Academic, and Church Historian

Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary (1927), of various Presbyterian denominations

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1.  Breathe on me, Breath of God;

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love what Thou dost love,

And do what Thou wouldst do.

2.  Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Until my heart is pure,

Until with Thee I will one will,

To do and to endure.

3.  Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Till I am wholly Thine,

Until this earthly part of me

Glows with Thy fire divine.

4.  Breathe on me, Breath of God;

So shall I never die,

But live with Thee the perfect life

Of Thine eternity.