Archive for the ‘Henry Van Dyke’ Tag
Above: Starry Night Sky
Image in the Public Domain
Hymn Source = Hymns for the Living Age (1923)
Text (1921) by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
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Thy wisdom and thy might appear,
Eternal God, through every year;
From day to day, from hour to hour,
Thy works reveal self-ordered power.
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We worship thee whose will hath laid
Thy sovereign rule on all things made;
The faithful stars, the fruitful earth,
Obey thy laws that gave them birth.
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Yet thou canst make a marvel shine
Amid these mighty laws of thine,
As when thy servant Moses came
And saw the bush with thee aflame.
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We turn aside and tread the ways
That lead through wonder up to praise;
Whatever thou by man art found
The homely earth is holy ground.
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If thou hast formed us out of dust
Through ages long, in thee we trust;
O grant us in our souls to see
The living flame that comes from thee.
Above: Zion Episcopal Church, Talbottan, Georgia, March 19, 2017
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Hymn Source = The Academic Hymnal (1899)
Hymn by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
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O Thou, whose boundless love bestows
The joy of life, the hope of heaven;
Thou whose unchartered mercy flows
O’er all the blessings Thou hast giv’n;
Thou, by whose light alone we see;
Thou, by whose truth our souls set free
Are made imperishably strong;
Hear Thou the solemn music of our song.
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Grant us the knowledge that we need
To solve the questions of the mind;
Light Thou our candle while we read,
And keep our hearts from going blind;
Enlarge our vision to behold
The wonders Thou hast wrought of old;
Reveal Thyself in ev’ry law,
And gild the towers of truth with holy awe.
Above: Ecclesia Militans
Image in the Public Domain
Text (1920-1921) by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
Hymn Source = The Methodist Hymnal (1935), The Methodist Church (1939-1968) and its three immediate predecessor bodies
The Evangelical and Reformed Church’s Hymnal of 1941 contains a rearranged (stanzas 3, 2, 1, and 4) version of the hymn, listed as “Wherever Men Adore Thee.” The Hymnal Committee concluded that their arrangement was “more logical.”–Armin Haeussler, The Story of Our Hymns: The Handbook to the Hymnal of the Evangelical and Reformed Church (St. Louis, MO: Eden Publishing House, 1952), page 427
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1. No form of human framing,
No bond of outward might,
Can bind Thy Church together, Lord,
And all her flocks unite;
But, Jesus, Thou hast told us
How unity must be:
Thou art with God the Father one,
And we are one in Thee.
2. The mind that is in Jesus
Will guide us into truth,
The humble, open, joyful mind
Of ever-learning youth;
The heart that is in Jesus
Will lead us out of strife,
The giving and forgiving heart
That follows love in life.
Wherever men adore Thee,
Our souls with them would kneel;
Wherever men implore Thy help,
Their trouble we would feel;
And where men do Thy service,
Though knowing not Thy sign,
Our hand is with them in good work,
For they are also Thine.
4. Forgive us, Lord, the folly
That quarrels with Thy friends,
And draw us nearer to Thy heart,
Where every discord ends;
Thou art the crown of manhood,
And Thou of God the Son:
O Master of our many lives,
In Thee our life is one.
Above: Christ Blessing, by Nardo di Cione
Image in the Public Domain
Text (1909) by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
Hymn Source = The Hymnal for Youth (1941), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
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1. Jesus, Thou divine Companion,
By Thy lowly human birth
Thou hast come to join the workers,
Burden bearers of the earth.
Thou, the Carpenter of Nazareth,
Toiling for Thy daily food,
By Thy patience and Thy courage,
Thou hast taught us toil is good.
2. They who tread the path of labor
Follow where Thy feet have trod;
They who work without complaining
Do the holy will of God.
Thou, the Peace that passeth knowledge,
Dwellest in the daily strife;
Thou, the Bread of heaven, art broken
In the sacrament of life.
3. Every task, however simple,
Sets the soul that does it free;
Every deed of love and kindness
Done to man is done to Thee.
Jesus, Thou divine Companion,
Help us all to work our best;
Bless us in our daily labor,
Lead us our Sabbath rest.
Above: Sunrise Over the Ocean
Image in the Public Domain
Text (1922) by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
Hymn Source = The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
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1. O Maker of the mighty deep
Whereon our vessels fare,
Above our life’s adventures keep
Thy faithful watch and care.
In Thee we trust, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
2. We know not where the secret tides
Will help us or delay,
Nor where the lurking tempest hides,
Nor where the fogs are gray.
We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
3. When outward bound we boldly sail
And leave the friendly shore,
Let not our heart of courage fail
Until the voyage is o’er.
We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
4. When homeward bound we gladly turn,
O bring us safely there,
Where harbor-lights of friendship burn
And peace is in the air.
We trust in Thee, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
5. Beyond the circle of the sea,
When voyaging is past,
We seek our final port in Thee;
O bring us home at last.
In Thee we trust, whate’er befall;
Thy sea is great, our boats are small.
Above: Daisies in the Morning
Image in the Public Domain
Text (1907) by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
Hymn Source = The Hymnal for Youth (1941), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
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1. Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the dark of doubt away,
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.
2. All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.
3. Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the Joy Divine.
4. Mortals, join the mighty chorus
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
in the triumph song of life.
Above: Henry Van Dyke (Circa 1920-1921), Architect of The Book of Common Worship (1906)
Image Source = Library of Congress
(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/npc2008010402/)
I have adapted (ever so slightly, mainly updating possessive pronouns) two prayers for “A Session of the General Assembly” from The Book of Common Worship (1906), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (1870-1958).
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Almighty God, who by your Holy Spirit inhabits the whole company of the faithful;
Graciously regard, we beseech you, your servants gathered before you at this time,
in the (name church assembly here) and chief council of this Church.
Shed down upon them heavenly wisdom and grace;
enlighten them with true knowledge of your Word;
inspire them with a pure zeal for your glory;
and so order all their doings through your good Spirit
that unity and peace may prevail among them;
that truth and righteousness may flow forth from them;
and that, by their endeavors
all your ministers and congregations may be established and comforted,
your gospel everywhere purely preached and strengthened,
and the whole body of your elect people grow up into Him
who is Head over all things to the Church,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Almighty and everlasting God,
who by your Holy Spirit enlightened the minds of your servants the Apostles and Elders,
met together at Jerusalem to take counsel for the peace and unity of your church,
and has promised by your Son Jesus Christ to be with your faithful ministers to the end of the world;
Grant us, we beseech you, the same enlightening and life-giving Spirit,
that those things which seem good to the Holy Spirit may also seem good to us.
Let brotherly love continue,
and in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than himself;
save us from all uncharitable judging and rash speaking.
Let the peace of God rule in our hearts, and the law of kindness dwell upon our lips;
and of your great mercy vouchsafe, we beseech you,
so to direct, sanctify, and govern us in all our doings,
by the indwelling of your good Spirit,
that the Gospel of Christ may be truly preached,
devoutly received, and heartily obeyed in all places,
to the breaking down of the kingdom of sin and evil,
till at length the whole flock of your dispersed sheep being gathered into your fold,
under the one Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, shall become partakers of everlasting life,
through the merits and mediation of your dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
to whom be glory in the church, world without end. Amen.
GATHERED PRAYERS 
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