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Tag: Hymnal 1982

  • O Thou Who Camest From Above

    The Hymns of Charles Wesley are among the finest treasures of Christian verse, sung by Anglicans, Methodists, and others around the world. Today, I selected one of his hymns for the Unapologetically Episcopalian Facebook page, "O Thou Who Camest From Above." As I listened to the music and read the words, I had an epiphany. It dawned on me that, even though this hymn is included in both The Hymnal 1982 (Episcopal) and The United Methodist Hymnal, I don't recall ever choosing it for corporate worship. In fact, I don't remember ever singing it at any time during my 49 years of ordained ministry.

    The text is a reflection upon a verse from the Book of Leviticus: “A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar; it shall not go out” (Leviticus 6:13 NRSV). It has sacramental overtones in Christian liturgy as in the traditional Great Thanksgiving handed down to Anglicans and Methodists alike, we pray, "And here we offer unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee…" Those familiar with the Christian experience of both Charles Wesley and his brother John Wesley, may recognize an allusion to their experience, which John described as one that gave him faith in Christ who kindled a flame in the "altar of my heart."

    Interestingly, Hereford, the tune to which the hymn is set in the aforementioned hymnals and in the recording below is by composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley, grandson of Charles Wesley, who was Organist of Hereford Cathedral early in his career. His father, Samuel Wesley, was also a noted English organist and composer.

    This hymn is a supplication to our Savior to supply the spiritual guidance and gifts to allow his followers to fulfill the vocation to work, think, and speak for him every day. It is a perfect prayer for any Christian's daily life and I commend it to you. Perhaps it will become a spiritual practice for you in your journey of faith in the Way of Love.

    1 O thou who camest from above
    the fire celestial to impart,
    kindle a flame of sacred love
    on the mean altar of my heart!

    2 There let it for thy glory burn
    with inextinguishable blaze,
    and trembling to its source return
    in humble prayer and fervent praise.

    3 Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
    to work, and speak, and think for thee;
    still let me guard the holy fire,
    and still stir up the gift in me.

    4 Ready for all thy perfect will,
    my acts of faith and love repeat;
    till death thy endless mercies seal,
    and make the sacrifice complete. 

    Blessings,

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ron Pogue
    Arlington, Texas

  • Give Thanks to God

    Our Thanksgiving Day service at Saint John's Cathedral will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 24. If you are in the vicinity, please join us. Come as you are, bring family, friends, or neighbors to this beautiful, inspiring place dedicated to the glory of our bountiful Creator.

    Also, I want to encourage you to make your meal a true feast of Thanksgiving for those who gather with you around the table. The Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church provides many resources to help us join together in giving thanks on our national day of thanksgiving. Our Hymnal also is filled with words and music to express our gratitude. I commend these worship resources to you and pray that you and those you love will enjoy a truly Happy Thanksgiving!

    The Collect for Thanksgiving Day

    Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

    Prayers for Our Country

    Almighty God, you have given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

    A Litany of Thanksgiving

    Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely bestowed upon us.

    For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea.

    We thank you, Lord.

    For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,

    We thank you, Lord.

    For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,

    We thank you, Lord.

    For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,

    We thank you, Lord.

    For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,

    We thank you, Lord.

    For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,

    We thank you, Lord.

    For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice,

    We thank you, Lord.

    For the communion of saints, in all times and places,

    We thank you, Lord.

    Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;

    To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

     

    Hymn 397

     

     

    John Rutter's setting of Now Thank We All Our God performed by the Cambridge Singers

    Words: Martin Rinckart (1586-1649); tr. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)

    Music: Nun danket alle Gott, melody Johann Cruger (1589-1662); arr. John Rutter (1945-)

     

  • Let us give thanks to God!

    The Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church provides many resources to help us join together in giving thanks on our national day of thanksgiving. Our Hymnal also is filled with words and music to express our gratitude. I commend these worship resources to you and pray that you and those you love will enjoy a truly Happy Thanksgiving!

    Ron Short Sig Blue

     

     

     

     

    The Collect for Thanksgiving Day

    Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

    Prayers for Our Country

    Almighty God, you have given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

    A Litany of Thanksgiving

    Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely bestowed upon us.

    For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea.
    We thank you, Lord.

    For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,
    We thank you, Lord.

    For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
    We thank you, Lord.

    For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
    We thank you, Lord.

    For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
    We thank you, Lord.

    For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
    We thank you, Lord.

    For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice,
    We thank you, Lord.

    For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
    We thank you, Lord.

    Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;
    To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

    Hymn 433

     

    We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
    he chastens and hastens his will to make known;
    the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
    sing praise to his Name, he forgets not his own.

    Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
    ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
    so from the beginning the fight we were winning:
    thou, Lord, wast at our side: all glory be thine!

    We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
    and pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
    Let thy congregation escape tribulation:
    thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

    Words: Nederlandtsche Gedenckclanck, 1626; trans. Theodore Baker (1851-1934), 1894.
    Music: Kremser (Nederlandtsche Gedenckclank, 1626)

     

     

    Hymn 397

      

    Now thank we all our God,
    with heart and hands and voices,
    who wondrous things hath done,
    in whom his world rejoices;
    who from our mother's arms
    hath blessed us on our way
    with countless gifts of love,
    and still is ours today.

    O may this bounteous God
    through all our life be near us,
    with ever-joyful hearts
    and blessed peace to cheer us;
    and keep us in his grace,
    and guide us when perplexed,
    and free us from all ills
    in this world and the next.

    All praise and thanks to God
    the Father now be given,
    the Son, and Holy Ghost,
    supreme in highest heaven,
    the one eternal God,
    whom earth and heaven adore;
    for thus it was, is now,
    and shall be evermore.

    Words: Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), 1636 trans. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), 1858.
    Music: Nun danket alle Gott (later form of melody by Johann Crüger, 1598-1662) arr. John Rutter.