Above:  The Crucifixion

Image in the Public Domain

Text (published in 1867), by Elizabeth Rundle Charles (1828-1876)

Hymn Source #1 = The Methodist Hymnal (1935), the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the Methodist Protestant Church

Hymn Source #2 = Robert Guy McCutchan, Our Hymnody:  A Manual of The Methodist Hymnal, 2nd. ed. (1937)

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Never further than Thy cross,

Never higher than Thy feet;

Here earth’s precious things seem dross,

Here earth’s bitter things grow sweet.

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Gazing thus our sin we see,

Learn Thy love while gazing thus;

Sin, which laid the cross on Thee,

Love, which bore the cross for us.

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Here we learn to serve and give,

And, rejoicing, self deny;

Here we gather love to live,

Here we gather faith to die.

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Symbols of our liberty

And our service here unite;

Captives, by Thy cross set free,

Soldiers of Thy cross, we fight.

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Pressing onward as we can,

Still to this our hearts must tend;

Where our earliest hopes began,

There our last aspirings end;

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Till amid the hosts of light,

We in Thee redeemed, complete,

Through Thy cross made pure and white,

Cast our crowns before Thy feet.

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Above:  One of My Crucifixes, July 15, 2014

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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

Words (1863) by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), U.S. Congregationalist minister

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1.  Jesus, Lamb of God! for me,

Thou, the Lord of life, didst die;

Whither–whither, but to thee,

Can a trembling sinner fly?

Death’s dark waters o’er me roll,

Save, oh, save my sinking soul.

2.  Never bowed a martyred head

Weighed with equal sorrow down;

Never blood so rich was shed,

Never king wore such a crown;

To thy cross and sacrifice

Faith now lifts her tearful eyes.

3.  All my soul, by love subdued,

Melts in deep contrition there;

By thy mighty grace renewed,

New-born hope forbids despair;

Lord! thou canst my guilt forgive,

Thou hast bid me look and live.

4.  While with broken heart I kneel,

Sinks the inward storm to rest;

Life, immortal life, I feel

Kindled in my throbbing breast;

Thine, for ever thine, I am;

Glory to the bleeding Lamb!

Above:  One of My Crucifixes, July 15, 2014

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Original German Words by Christian Gregor (1723-1801), the “Father of Moravian Music”

English Translation (1801) by Frederick William Foster (1760-1835), British Moravian bishop and hymnal editor

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), of the Moravian Church in America

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1.  O Thou, Whose human life for us

Did happiness obtain;

Thou Who, expiring on the Cross,

God’s image didst regain;

2.  We  bless Thee for the gift restored

Through Thy humanity;

Beneath Thy shadow, Son of man,

‘Tis good a man to be.

Above:  Part of the Text

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = Hymns of the Ages (1891), Presbyterian Church in the United States

Words by George Duffield, Jr. (1818-1888)

http://neatnik2009.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/feast-of-george-duffield-jr-and-samuel-duffield-july-2/

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1.  Blessed Saviour, Thee I love,

All  my other joys above;

All my hopes in Thee abide,

Thou my Hope, and naught beside;

Ever let my glory be,

Only, only, only Thee.

2.  Once again beside the cross,

All my gain I count but loss;

Earthly pleasures fade away;

Clouds they are that hide my day:

Hence, vain shadows! let me see

Jesus, crucified for me.

3.  From beneath thy thorny crown

Trickle drops of cleansing down;

Pardon from Thy pierced hand

Now I take, while here I stand;

Only then I live to Thee,

When Thy wounded side I see.

4.  Blessed Saviour, Thine am I,

Thine to live, and Thine to die;

Height or depth, or earthly power,

Ne’er shall hide my Saviour more;

Ever shall my glory be,

Only, only, only Thee!

Above:  Church of the Common Ground, Atlanta, Georgia, April 5, 2012

(The Church of the Common Ground is a ministry to homeless people.)

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/CommonGroundFootwashingAndEucharist#5728362228570780674)

Hymn Source = The Church Hymnal (1935), of the Church of the United Brethren, a predecessor body of The United Methodist Church (1968-)

Words (1768) by the Reverend Joseph Hart (1712-1768)

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1.  That solemn night before his death,

The Lamb, for sinners slain,

Did, almost with his dying breath,

This solemn feast ordain.

2.  To keep the feast, Lord, we have met,

And to remember thee;

Help each each poor trembler to repeat,

For me, he died, for me.

3.  Thy suff’rings, Lord, each sacred sign

To our remembrance brings;

We eat the bread and drink the wine,

But think on nobler things.

4.  Oh, tune our tongues, and set in frame

Each heart that pants for thee,

To sing, Hosanna to the Lamb,

The Lamb that died for me.

Above:  St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

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O Crucified Redeemer:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/o-crucified-redeemer/

Lovely to the Outward Eye:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/lovely-to-the-outward-eye/

Lord Christ, When First Thou Cam’st to Men:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/lord-christ-when-first-thou-camst-to-men/

Dost Thou Truly Seek Renown:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/09/22/dost-thou-truly-seek-renown/

Praise for Every Scene Distressing:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/praise-for-every-scene-distressing/

Lord, As To Thy Dear Cross We Flee:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/12/10/lord-as-to-thy-dear-cross-we-flee/

Jesus, Meek and Lowly:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/jesus-meek-and-lowly/

Drawn to the Cross:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/drawn-to-the-cross/

Jesus, Lamb of God!

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/09/21/jesus-lamb-of-god/

Prayer for Good Friday:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/prayer-for-good-friday/

Grant, Lord Jesus, That My Healing:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/grant-lord-jesus-that-my-healing/

To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/to-mock-your-reign-o-dearest-lord/

Throned Upon the Awful Tree:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/throned-upon-the-awful-tree/

How Can I Thank You?:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/how-can-i-thank-you/

O Christ, Who Called the Twelve:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/o-christ-who-called-the-twelve/

How Wide the Love of Christ:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/how-wide-the-love-of-christ/

Beneath the Cross of Jesus:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/beneath-the-cross-of-jesus/

Darkly Rose the Guilty Morning:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/darkly-rose-the-guilty-morning/

O Jesus, We Adore Thee:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/o-jesus-we-adore-thee/

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/o-sacred-head-now-wounded/

Stabat Mater:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/stabat-mater/

Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/ah-holy-jesus-how-hast-thou-offended/

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/when-i-survey-the-wondrous-cross/

My Song is Love Unknown:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/my-song-is-love-unknown/

In the Cross of Christ I Glory:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/in-the-cross-of-christ-i-glory/

Hymn of Promise:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/hymn-of-promise/

O Jesus, Youth of Nazareth:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/o-jesus-youth-of-nazareth-by-ferdinand-q-blanchard/

For the Cross:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/for-the-cross/

O Blessed Mother:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/o-blessed-mother/

O Word of Pity, for Our Pardon Pleading:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/o-word-of-pity-for-our-pardon-pleading/

Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/sing-my-tongue-the-glorious-battle/

O Man of Sorrows:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/o-man-of-sorrows/

Thine Agony, O Lord, is O’er:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/12/27/thine-agony-o-lord-is-oer/

Blessed Saviour, Thee I Love:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/blessed-saviour-thee-i-love/

Thou, Whose Human Life For Us Did Happiness Obtain:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/thou-whose-human-life-for-us-did-happiness-obtain/

Sing With Awe in Strains Melodious:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/09/13/sing-with-awe-in-strains-melodious/

When Mother Love Makes All Things New:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/11/18/when-mother-love-makes-all-things-bright/

Jesus Christ, Our Lord Most Holy:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/jesus-christ-our-lord-most-holy/

The Royal Standard Forward Goes:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/05/16/the-royal-standard-forward-goes/

Lord Jesus, Thou Art Going Forth:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/05/21/lord-jesus-thou-art-going-forth/

How Shall We Thank You:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/how-shall-we-thank-you/

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Above:  What Our Saviour Saw from the Cross, by James Joseph Jacques Tissot (1836-1902)

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Lutheran Worship (1982), of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

Original German words by Johann Heermann (1585-1647)

English Translation by F. Samuel Janzow (1913-2001), U.S. Lutheran pastor and professor of religion and English

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1.  Grant, Lord Jesus, that my healing

In your holy wounds I find.

Cleanse my spirit, will, and feeling;

Heal my body, soul, and mind.

When some evil thought within

Tempts my wayward heart to sin,

Work in me for its eviction,

Weighted by your crucifixion.

2.  If some lust in current fashion

Rises like a fi’ry flood,

Draw me to your cross and Passion,

Quench the fire, Lord, by your blood.

Lest I to the tempter yield,

Let me front him with the shield,

Thorn-crowned, blood-marked tree displaying,

Sign the devils find dismaying.

3.  Beckoned by the world’s old question,

“Going my broad, easy road?”

Let me turn from its suggestion

To the agonizing load

Which for me you did endure.

Let me thus flee thoughts impure

Lest I toy with soiled emotions,

Losing joy in blest devotions.

4.  Where the wound is and the hurting,

Pour in oil and cleansing wine.

Let your cross, its pow’r asserting,

Touch my life with grace divine.

Ev’ry bitter cup make sweet,

Bread of comfort let me eart.

For you won my soul’s salvation

By your death for ev’ry nation.

5.  Jesus, rock of strength, my tower,

In your death I put my trust.

When you died, death lost its power,

When you rose, it turned to dust.

Let your bitter agony,

Suffered for us, comfort me.

Dying, Lord, in its protection,

I have life and resurrection.

Above:  Christ Carrying the Cross, by El Greco

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The United Methodist Hymnal:  Book of United Methodist Worship (1989)

Words (1972) by Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000), British Methodist minister

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1.  To mock your reign, O dearest Lord, they made a crown of thorns;

set you with taunts along that road from which no one returns.

They could not know, as we do now, how glorious is that crown;

that thorns would flower upon your brow, your sorrows heal our own.

2.  In mock acclaim, O gracious Lord, they snatched a purple cloak;

your passion turned, for all they cared, into a soldier’s joke.

They could not know, as we do now, that though we merit blame,

you will your robe of mercy throw around our naked shame.

3.  A sceptered reed, O patient Lord, they thrust into your hand,

and acted out their grim charade to is appointed end.

They could not know, as we do now, though empires rise and fall,

your kingdom shall not cease to grow till love embraces all.

Above:  St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, Good Friday, 2011

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/StDunstanSGoodFriday#5598532719721683490)

Words by John Ellerton (1826-1893), a priest of The Church of England

Hymn Source = Common Service Book (1917), of the predecessor bodies of the United Lutheran Church in America

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1.  Throned upon the awful tree,

King of grief, I watch with Thee;

Darkness veils Thine anguished face,

None its lines of woe can trace,

None can tell what pangs unknown

Hold Thee silent and alone.

2. Silent through those three dread hours,

Wrestling with the evil powers,

Left alone with human sin,

Gloom around Thee and within,

Till the appointed time is nigh,

Till the Lamb of God may die.

3.  Hark that cry that peels aloud

Upward through the whelming cloud!

Thou, the Father’s Only Son,

Thou, His own Anointed One,

Thou dost ask Him–can it be?

“Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

4. Lord, should fear and anguish roll

Darkly o’er my sinful soul,

Thou, Who once was thus bereft

That Thine own might ne’er be left–

Teach me by that bitter cry

In the gloom to know Thee nigh.

Trinity Episcopal Church, Statesboro, Georgia, where I was a member 2001-2003, when I attended Georgia Southern University

Image Source = Parish Website

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1895), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words (published in 1872) by Elizabeth C. Clephane (1830-1869)

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1.  Beneath the cross of Jesus

I fain would take my stand–

The shadow of a mighty Rock

Within a weary land;

A home within the wilderness,

A rest upon the way,

From the burning of the noontide heat,

And the burden of the day.

2.  Upon the cross of Jesus

Mine eyes at times can see

The very dying form of One

Who suffered there for me:

And from my stricken heart with tears

Two wonders I confess–

The wonders of redeeming love

And my unworthiness.

3.  I take, O Cross, thy shadow

For my abiding place:

I ask no other sunshine than

The sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by,

To know no gain nor loss;

My sinful self my only shame,

My glory all, the cross.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirty-ninth-day-of-lent-good-friday/