Above:  The Holy Spirit as a Dove

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor from a Church Bulletin, St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia, Pentecost 2015

Text (1829) by Harriet Auber (1773-1862)

Hymn Source = A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (1830), American Unitarian Association

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

Our blest Redeemer, ere he breathed

His tender, last farewell,

A Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed

With us to dwell.

+++++

He came in tongues of living flame,

To teach, convince, subdue;

All powerful as the wind he came,

As viewless too.

+++++

He came sweet influence to impart,

A gracious willing guest,

While he can find one humble heart

Wherein to rest.

+++++

And his that gentle voice we hear,

Soft as the breath of even,

That checks each fault, that calms each fear,

And speaks of heaven.

+++++

And every virtue we possess,

And every victory won,

And every thought of holiness,

Are his alone.

+++++

Spirit of purity and grace,

Our weakness pitying see;

O make our hearts thy dwelling place,

And worthier thee.

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

Above:  Sunset Rays in Sky

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1824) by Lydia Sigourney (1791-1865)

Hymn Source = American Hymns Old and New (1980)

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

Blessed Comforter Divine!

Whose rays of heavenly love

Amid our gloom and darkness shine,

And point our souls above;

And point our souls above.

+++++

Thou! who with “still small voice,”

Does stop the sinner’s way,

And bid the mourning saint rejoice,

Though earthly joys decay;

Though earthly joys decay.

+++++

Thou! whose inspiring breath

Can make the cloud of care,

And e’en the gloomy vale of death,

A smile of glory wear;

A smile of glory wear.

+++++

Thou! who dost fill the heart

With love to all our race,

Blest Comforter! to us impart

The blessings of thy grace,

The blessings of thy grace.

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

Above:  The Holy Spirit as a Dove

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Text (1854) by Margaret Mackay (1802-1887)

Hymn Source = Songs of the Spirit:  Hymns of Praise and Prayer to God the Holy Ghost (1871), edited by Bishop William Henry Odenheimer (1817-1879) and Father Frederic Mayer Bird (1838-1908), both Episcopalians

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

Gracious Spirit, from on high,

Sent to show a Saviour nigh!

In the darkest hours of night

Cheer me with Thy quenchless light.

+++++

By Thine holy office led

Testify of Him who bled;

Testify how Jesus slain

Rose, revived, and reigns again.

+++++

Turn the sinner from his sin,

Teach him how the crown to win;

Bring him to Immanuel’s feet,

Lead him to the mercy seat.

+++++

Thou canst make the soul to feed

On the ever-living Bread;

Thou canst calm his newborn fears,

Dry his penitential tears.

+++++

Bid him hear the Shepherd’s voice,

Think of Jesus and rejoice;

Daily, though earth’s woes increase,

Thou canst sweetly whisper peace.

+++++

While in just avenging ire

God is “a consuming fire,”

Yet, Thou new life-giving Dove,

Thou canst show how God is love.

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

Above:  Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America/The Evangelical Lutheran Church

Original Danish Words (1778) by Birgitte Katerine Boye (1742-1824)

English Translation (1908) by George Alfred Taylor Rygh (1860-1942)

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

O Light of God’s most wondrous love,

Who dost our darkness brighten,

Shed on Thy Church from heaven above,

Our eyes of faith enlighten!

As in Thy light we gather here,

Show us that Christ’s own promise clear

is Yea and Amen forever.

O risen and ascended Lord,

We wait fulfillment of Thy word:

O bless us with Thy favor!

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

The altered translation from The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America:

Holy Spirit, God of love,

Who our night dost brighten,

Shed on us from heaven above,

Now our faith enlighten.

In Thy light we gather here;

Show us that Christ’s promise clear

Is Amen forever.

Jesus, our ascended Lord,

O fulfill Thy gracious Word:

Bless us with Thy favor!

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.

Image:  St. Clare’s Episcopal Church, Blairsville, Georgia, August 5, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/BishopWhitmoreSVisitToStClareSBlairsville#5773283311235943938)

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1912), National Council of Congregational Churches in the United States

Words by Thomas Toke Lynch (1818-1871), an English Congregationalist minister

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

1.  Gracious Spirit, dwell with me,

I myself would gracious be;

And with words that help and heal

Would thy life in mine reveal,

And with actions bold and meek

Would for Christ my Savior speak.

2.  Truthful Spirit, dwell with me,

I myself would truthful be;

And with wisdom kind and clear

Let thy life in mine appear,

And with actions brotherly

Speak my Lord’s sincerity.

3.  Silent Spirit, dwell with me:

I myself would quiet be,

Quiet as the growing blade,

Which through earth its way hath made

Silently, like morning light

Putting mists and chills to flight.

4.  Mighty Spirit, dwell with me,

I myself would mighty be;

Mighty so as to prevail

Where unaided man must fail;

Ever by a mighty hope,

Pressing on and bearing up.

5.  Holy Spirit, dwell with me,

I myself would holy be;

Separate from sin, I would

Choose and cherish all things good,

And whatever I can be

Give to him who gave me thee!

Above:  Design Drawing for Stained-Glass West Transept Window Showing Pentecost for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tampa, Florida

Image Source = Library of Congress

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1912), National Council of Congregational Churches in the United States

Words by Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892), U.S. Unitarian minister and author of at least thirty-three hymns

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

1.  Holy Spirit, Truth divine,

Dawn upon this soul of mine;

Word of God and inward light,

Wake my spirit, clear my sight.

2.  Holy Spirit, Love divine,

Glow within this heart of mine;

Kindle every high desire;

Perish self in thy pure fire.

3.  Holy Spirit, Power divine,

Fill and nerve this will of mine;

By thee may I strongly live,

Bravely bear, and nobly strive.

4.  Holy Spirit, Right divine,

King within my conscience reign;

Be my law, and I shall be

Firmly bound, forever free.

5.  Holy Spirit, Peace Divine,

Still this restless heart of mine;

Speak to calm this tossing sea,

Stayed in thy tranquility.

6.  Holy Spirit, Joy Divine,

Gladden thou this heart of mine;

In the desert ways I sing,

‘Spring, O Well, for ever spring.’

Above:  Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Cumming, Georgia, June 12, 2011 

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1895), the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (1869-1958)

Words (1829) by Andrew Reed (1787-1862)

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

1.  Spirit divine, attend our prayers,

And make this house Thy home;

Descend with all Thy gracious powers;

O come, great Spirit, come!

2.  Come as the light: to us reveal

Our emptiness and woe;

And lead us in those paths of life

Where all the righteous go.

3.  Come as the fire: and purge our hearts

Like sacrificial flame;

Let our whole soul an offering be

To our Redeemer’s Name.

4.  Come as the dove:

and spread Thy wings,

The wings of peaceful love;

And let Thy Church on earth become

Blest as the Church above.

5.  Spirit divine, attend our prayers;

Make a lost world Thy home;

Descend with all Thy gracious powers;

O come, great Spirit, come!

Above:  Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Cumming, Georgia, June 12, 2011

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/114749828757741527421/EpiscopalChurchOfTheHolySpirit#5617436918573364418)

Hymn Source = The New Psalms and Hymns (1901), of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (1861-1983)

Words (1842) by Andrew Reed (1787-1862)

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

1.  Holy Ghost, with light divine,

Shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the shades of night away,

Turn the darkness into day.

2.  Holy Ghost, with power divine,

Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;

Long has sin, without control,

Held dominion o’er my soul.

3.  Holy Ghost, with joy divine,

Cheer this saddened heart of mine,

Bid my many woes depart,

Heal my wounded, bleeding heart.

4.  Holy Spirit, all divine,

Dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down every idol throne,

Reign supreme–and reign above.