When on the mount the Lord appeared...

When on the mount the Lord appeared

Transfigured to the sight,

His countenance was like the sun,

His raiment glistened white.
 

But dull the minds, and dark the eyes,

On whom such glory shone;

They saw not God upon the mount,

They saw but man alone.
 

And when the dark and cloudy days

Of death and sorrow came,

What were their thoughts of Him who hung

Upon the cross of shame?
 

They knew not that the God of Life

An offering yielded there,

And of His will endured for all

The load of sin He bare.
 

Lord, to the mount where Thou art seen

In all Thy glory bright,

Thy servants now would wend their way

To gaze upon the Light,

And there behold, in glory clad,

The Light to mortals given,

That in the night that hid the cross,

Shone with the light of heaven.”

-Hymns from the Morningland: tr. John Brownlie image

Shine On Us

Philips, Craig and Dean

Thou Lamb of Calvary...

My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,

O let me from this day be wholly Thine!
 

May Thy rich grace impart

Strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire!

As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee,

Pure warm, and changeless be, a living fire!
 

While life’s dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread, be Thou my Guide;

Bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,

When death’s cold sullen stream over me roll;

Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove;

O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!

-Ray Palmer image

"Thy kingdom come!"

"Thy kingdom come!" on bended knee

the passing ages pray;

and faithful souls have yearned to see

on earth that kingdom's day.
 

But the slow watches of the night

not less to God belong;

and for the everlasting right

the silent stars are strong.
 

And lo, already on the hills

the flags of dawn appear;

gird up your loins, ye prophet souls,

proclaim the day is near:
 

The day to whose clear shining light

all wrong shall stand revealed,

when justice shall be throned in might,

and every heart be healed;
 

When knowledge, hand in hand with peace,

shall walk the earth abroad;

the day of perfect righteousness,

the promised day of God.

-Frederick Lucian Hosmer image

For All the Saints

For all the saints who from their labors rest,

Who thee by faith before the world confessed,

Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
 

O blest communion, fellowship divine!

We feebly struggle; they in glory shine;

Yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
 

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,

Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,

Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Words: William W. How     Music: Ralph Vaugh­an Will­iams

Trinity Sunday 2014

 

Holy Father, great Creator,

source of mercy, love, and peace,

look upon the Mediator,

clothe us with his righteousness;

heavenly Father, heavenly Father,

through the Savior hear and bless.
 

Holy Jesus, Lord of glory,

whom angelic hosts proclaim,

while we hear thy wondrous story,

meet and worship in thy Name,

dear Redeemer, dear Redeemer,

in our hearts thy peace proclaim.
 

Holy Spirit, Sanctifier,

come with unction from above,

touch our hearts to sacred fire,

fill them with the Savior's love.

Source of comfort, Source of comfort,

cheer us with the Savior's love.
 

God the Lord, through every nation

let thy wondrous mercies shine.

In the song of thy salvation

every tongue and race combine.

Great Jehovah, great Jehovah,

form our hearts and make them thine.

-Alexander V. Griswold image

The Transfiguration...O wondrous sight!

O wondrous sight! O vision fair

Of glory that the church shall share,

Which Christ upon the mountain shows,

Where brighter than the sun He glows!
 

From age to age the tale declares

How with the three disciples there

Where Moses and Elijah meet,

The Lord holds converse high and sweet.
 

The law and prophets there have place,

Two chosen witnesses of grace,

The Father’s voice from out the cloud

Proclaims His only Son aloud.
 

With shining face and bright array,

Christ deigns to manifest that day

What glory shall be theirs above

Who joy in God with perfect love.
 

And faithful hearts are raised on high

By this great vision’s mystery;

For which in joyful strains we raise

The voice of prayer, the hymn of praise.
 

O Father, with the eternal Son,

And Holy Spirit, ever One,

Vouchsafe to bring us by Thy grace

To see Thy glory face to face.

...from the Sar­um Brev­i­ary

The chosen three, on mountain height..

The chosen three, on mountain height,

While Jesus bowed in prayer,

Beheld His vesture glow with light,

His face shine wondrous fair.

And lo! with the transfigured Lord,

Leader and seer they saw;

With Carmel’s hoary prophet stood

The giver of the law.

From the low bending cloud above,

Whence radiant brightness shone,

Spake out the Father’s voice of love,

“Hear My belovèd Son!”

Lord, lead us to the mountain height;

To prayer’s transfiguring glow;

And clothe us with the Spirit’s might

For grander work below.

...David H. Ela image

Come down, O love divine...

Come down, O love divine,

seek Thou this soul of mine,

And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing.

O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,

And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn, til earthly passions turn

To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;

And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,

And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity mine outward vesture be,

And lowliness become mine inner clothing;

True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,

And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,

Shall far outpass the power of human telling;

For none can guess its grace, till he become the place

Wherein the Holy Spirit makes His dwelling.

...Bi­an­co of Si­e­na  image by Ben Sutherland

Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear...

Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear,

It is not night if Thou be near;

O may no earth-born cloud arise

To hide Thee from thy servant's eyes.

... John Keble

Lord, we come before Thee now...

Lord, we come before Thee now,

At Thy feet we humbly bow;

Oh, do not our suit disdain!

Shall we seek Thee, Lord, in vain?

Lord, on Thee our souls depend;

In compassion now descend,

Fill our hearts with Thy rich grace,

Tune our lips to sing Thy praise.

Comfort those who weep and mourn,

Let the time of joy return;

Those that are cast down lift up,

Make them strong in faith and hope.

Grant that all may seek and find

Thee a gracious God and kind.

Heal the sick, the captive free;

Let us all rejoice in Thee.

...Will­iam Ham­mond image by Renee Youngblood

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna!

Hosanna, loud hosanna,

The little children sang,

Through pillared court and temple

The lovely anthem rang.

To Jesus, who had blessed them

Close folded to his breast,

The children sang their praises,

The simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed

Mid an exultant crowd,

The victor palm branch waving,

And chanting clear and loud.

The Lord of earth and heaven

Rode on in lowly state,

Nor scorned that little children

Should on his bidding wait.

Hosanna in the highest!"

That ancient song we sing,

For Christ is our Redeemer,

The Lord of heaven our King.

O may we ever praise him

With heart and life and voice,

And in his blissful presence

Eternally rejoice!

...Jeanette Threlfall image

How Deep the Father's Love For Us...

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything:
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.
...Stuart Townend