Sunday Audio Service – 3 before Lent – Holy Communion – 5/2/23
COME DOWN, O LOVE DIVINE,
Seek Thou this soul of mine
And visit it with Thine own ardour glowing.
O Comforter, draw near,
Within my heart appear,
And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn,
Till 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.
Richard F. Littledale (1833-90)
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THOU, WHOSE ALMIGHTY WORD
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight.
Hear us, we humbly pray,
And where the gospel-day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
Let there be light!
Thou who didst come to bring,
On Thy redeeming wing,
Healing and sight,
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind,
O now to all mankind
Let there be light!
Spirit of truth and love,
Life-giving, holy Dove,
Speed forth Thy flight.
Move on the waters’ face,
Bearing the lamp of grace,
And in earth’s darkest place
Let there be light!
Blessèd and holy Three,
Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, love, might;
Boundless as ocean’s tide
Rolling in fullest pride,
Through the world far and wide
Let there be light!
John Marriott.
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SEEK YE FIRST the kingdom of God
And His righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you,
Hallelu, hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelu, hallelujah!
Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God,
Hallelu, hallelujah!
Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you,
Hallelu, hallelujah!
If the Son shall set you free,
Ye shall be free indeed.
Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free,
Hallelu, hallelujah!
Let your light so shine before men,
That they may see your good works
And glorify your Father in heaven,
Hallelu, hallelujah!
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,
He shall direct thy paths,
In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
Hallelu, hallelujah!
Karen Lafferty.
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BE, THOU MY VISION, O Lord of my heart,
Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art.
Be Thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word,
Be Thou ever with me, and I with Thee, Lord.
Be Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son;
Be Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be Thou my whole armour, be Thou my true might;
Be Thou my soul’s shelter, be Thou my strong tower:
O raise Thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.
Riches I need not, nor man’s empty praise:
Be Thou mine inheritance now and always;
Be Thou and Thou only the first in my heart:
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
High King of heaven, Thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won.
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be Thou my vision, O Ruler of all.
Tr. Mary E. Byrne & Eleanor H. Hull.
