Above:  The Right Reverend Keith Whitmore, Assistant Bishop of Atlanta, at Christ Episcopal Church, Macon, Georgia, April 3, 2011

Image Source = Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5591444149666520193/5591454644619795986?banner=pwa&pid=5591454644619795986&oid=114749828757741527421)

Words (1926) by the Reverend P. C. Paulsen (1881-1948)

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/

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1.  Blest is he who cries to heaven

In the dark and evil day,

Whose transgressions are forgiven

And whose sins are wash’d away;

Blest, when God to him imputeth

Not iniquity nor sin,

When no hidden guile polluteth

Spirit, heart, and soul within.

2.  Long I kept in silence groaning,

While my bones wax’d weak and old;

Long, my heart with grief was moaning

And to Thee, O God, was cold.

Day and night Thy hand oppress’d me,

Moisture turn’d to summer drought,

My transgressions sore distress’d me,

While in vain I comfort sought.

3.  When, from Thee no longer hiding,

I confess’d my sins to Thee,

And, to Thee my grief confiding,

Thou in love forgavest me.

Now my heart is fill’d with gladness,

Thou surroundest me with grace;

Songs of joy dispel my sadness,

For Thou art my hiding place.

4.  Lord, instruct and teach me ever

In the way that I shall go;

With Thy counsel me deliver

From the cunning of the foe.

For Thy grace and mercy tender,

For Thy Table and Thy Word,

Thanks to heaven I will render

And forever praise Thee, Lord.

Above:  Celebration of a New Ministry, Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus, Georgia, December 6, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5818880905816372065/5818939292959048850?banner=pwa&pid=5818939292959048850&oid=114749828757741527421)

Words by the Reverend P. C. Paulsen (1881-1948)

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/

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1.  Jesus, bless Thy congregation,

Bless the servant of Thy Word!

Work in us Thy great salvation,

Bend our will to Thine, O Lord!

By Thy grace and mercy tender

Lead us into full surrender

To Thy guiding hand of love,

To the things that are above.

2.  Lord, remind us of our calling,

Keep Thy cross before our eyes,

Lest, in snares and errors falling,

We embrace the worldly wise!

With Thy counsel safely guide us,

In temptation walk beside us,

Let us in Thy church abide

With Thee, Savior crucified!

3.  Open wide the gates of heaven

For the streams of grace to flow

Into hearts which Thou hast given

To Thy working church below!

Let Thy mercies be upon us,

Till Thy loving care has won us

From our dark and barren ways

To a life in pray’r and praise!

4.  Bless the labor of Thy servant,

Make him fruitful in Thy love,

Send him forth with spirit fervent

To proclaim the things above!

When at times his heart may fail him

And the pains of doubt assail him,

Speak to him the healing word

And increase his faith, O Lord!

Above:  The High Altar at the New Chapel, St. Mary and Martha of Bethany Episcopal Church, Buford, Georgia, November 10, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5809999763099999377/5810003043756579218?banner=pwa&pid=5810003043756579218&oid=114749828757741527421)

Words (1937) by the Reverend P. C. Paulsen (1881-1948)

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/

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1.  Upon the sure foundation

Of Jesus Christ our Lord

God builds the congregation

By sacrament and Word,

Which is for Him a temple

In which His Spirit dwells

And Jesus, our example,

In holiness excels.

2.  God’s temple firmly founded,

Which stood the test of time,

Through ages has resounded

With pray’r and praise sublime;

It still is consecrated

To pray’r and songs of joy;

But they who violate it

Them shall the Lord destroy.

3.  So when the congregation,

Distinguished by the cross,

Goes forth in consecration

To serve the Saviour’s cause,

It shall be manifested

A people sanctified,

Who are with pow’r invested

To serve His chosen bride.

4.  How beautiful Thy dwelling,

O God of grace and love,

Thy hand with strength excelling

Upholds it from above!

Thy courts are filled with glory,

Thy alter, pure and bright,

Stands forth a promontory

Toward the Lord of Light.

Above:  The Ordination of Priests, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, June 22, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5892832548765357057/5893476228385620370?banner=pwa&pid=5893476228385620370&oid=114749828757741527421)

Words (1936) by the Reverend P. C. Paulsen (1881-1948)

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/

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1.  Send to the fields of Thy harvest, O God,

Servants whom Thou has appointed;

Send them to labor at home and abroad,

Men by Thy Spirit anointed!

Quicken their labor of reaping,

For to the harvest the fields are white,

Waiting to yield their increase ere night

Into the care of Thy keeping!

2.  Aid them when stormy and turbulent skies

Threaten their pow’r of endurance!

Shield them when enemies cunningly rise,

Seeking to steal their assurance!

Guide with Thy counsel the keepers,

Lest evil forces, which come to kill,

Enter Thy harvest to work their will,

Harming the faith of the reapers!

3.  No man can fathom Thy wisdom, O God,

Nor can Thy judgments we measure;

But if we follow where Jesus has trod,

We shall rejoice in Thy pleasure.

Out of our anguish and sorrow

Rises the sun to dispel the night,

Bringing on wings of the dawn of light

Hopes for a brighter tomorrow.

4.  Lord of the harvest, we kneel at Thy feet,

Bringing these servants before Thee,

Praying that they, with Thy blessings replete,

Always may serve and adore Thee!!

Though they may labor with weeping,

Grant them to garner in Thy employ

Sheaves of Thy wheat with triumphant joy

Into the care of Thy keeping!

Above:  Flowers Along a Country Road, Person County, North Carolina, July 1939, by Dorothea Lange

Image Source = Library of Congress

(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/fsa2000003563/PP/)

Reproduction Number = LC-USF34-020032-C

Original Danish Words by Bernhardt Severin Ingemann (1789-1862)

English Translation by the Reverend P. C. Paulsen (1881-1948)

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/

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1.  The flowers now awaken, refreshed by morning dew,

The happy birds are calling for each other;

Another day begins with its blessings anew,

And children awake to greet their mother.

2.  Our loving God and Father the smallest worm is near,

He feeds the birds and lilies clothes with splendor;

The children of the earth are to Him much more dear,

He quiets their fears with mercy tender.

3.  God’s son, himself a Babe, in a lowly manger lay,

And hay and straw was for His comfort given;

Now with the little children He cometh to stay,

And flowers He bringeth them from heaven.

4.  Our Savior loves the children, He is a Friend so true,

The little babe He bringeth to His Father;

He who commands the billows and rules the heav’ns blue,

Will into His arms the children gather.

5.  O Lord, who once hast blessed us and opened Paradise,

Some morning bright we Thee shall meet up yonder;

Thou taughtest us to pray and to Thee lift up our eyes,

We praise Thee and at Thy mercy wonder.

Above:  Snow-Clad Fields in Morning Light (Between 1900 and 1912), by Gardner Symons (1863-1930)

Publisher and Copyright Claimant = Detroit Pubishing Company

Image Source = Library of Congress

(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/det1994022603/PP/)

Reproduction Number = LC-D416-174

Original Danish Words by Bernhardt Severin Ingemann (1789-1862)

English Translation by the Reverend P. C. Paulsen (1881-1948)

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/

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1.  As wide as the skies is Thy mercy, O God!

Thy faithfulness shieldeth creation.

Thy bounteous hand from the mountains abroad

Is stretched over country and nation.

2.  Like heaven’s embrace is Thy love, O my Lord!

In judgment profound Thou appearest.

Thou savest our souls through Thy life-giving word.

The cries of Thy chidren Thou hearest.

3.  How precious is Thy goodness, O Father above,

Where children of men are abiding.

Thou spreadest through darkness the wings of Thy love;

We under their pinions are hiding.

4.  For languishing souls Thou preparest a rest,

The quivering dove Thou protectest;

Thou givest us being, eternal and blest,

In mercy our life Thou protectest.