Above:  Christ Blessing, by Nardo di Cione

Text (1826) by Henry Ustick Onderdonk (1789-1858)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

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The Spirit in our hearts

Is whispering, sinner, come,

The Bride, the Church of Christ, proclaims

To all his children, come.

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Let him that heareth say

To all about him, come.

Let him that thirsts for righteousness

To Christ, the fountain, come.

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Yes, whosoever will,

O let him freely come,

And freely drink the stream of life;

‘Tis Jesus bids him come.

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Lo, Jesus, who invites,

Declares, I quickly come.

Lord! even so, I wait thy hour;

Jesus, my Saviour, come.

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Above:  The Flag of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Image in the Public Domain

Henry Ustick Onderdonk (1789-1858) was the Episcopal Assistant Bishop of Pennsylvania (1827-1836) and Bishop of Pennsylvania (1836-1844).  His resignation from that post followed a struggle with alcohol which began after a medical prescription.  Onderdonk’s suspension by the House of Bishops in 1844 had more to do with his High Church tendencies than his previous intemperance.  The exemplary nature of Onderdonk’s life from 1844 to 1856 led to the lifting of his suspension.

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The Savior Kindly Calls:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/the-savior-kindly-calls/

How Wondrous and Great are Thy Works, God of Praise:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/how-wondrous-and-great-thy-works-god-of-praise/

The Spirit in Our Hearts:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/09/03/the-spirit-in-our-hearts/

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

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

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

Words (1826) by Henry Ustick Onderdonk (1789-1858), after Philip Doddridge (1702-1751)

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1.  The Savior kindly calls

Our children to His breast;

He folds them in His gracious arms,

Himself declares them blest.

2.  “Let them approach,” He cries,

“Nor scorning humble claim;

The heirs of heav’n are such as these,

For such as these I came.”

3.  With joy we bring them, Lord,

Devoting them to Thee,

Imploring that, as we are Thine,

Thine may our offspring be.

Earth, from Apollo 17 (1972)

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1916 (1918), of The Episcopal Church

Words by the Reverend Henry Ustick Onderdonk (1789-1858), in 1826, while Rector of St. Ann’s, Brooklyn, New York; served as the Episcopal Assistant Bishop of Pennsylvania (1827-1836) and Bishop of Pennsylvania (1836-1844)

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1.  How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise!

How just, King of saints, and true are thy ways!

O who shall not fear thee, and honor thy Name?

Thou only art holy, thou only supreme.

2.  To nations long dark thy light shall be shown;

Their worship and vows shall come to thy throne;

Thy truth and thy judgments shall spread all abroad,

Till earth’s every people confess thee their God.