October The Twenty-Fifth

O THOU Hope of all holy and humble men of heart, and the Saviour of them that trust in Thee in time of trouble, give us not over as captives, in spiritual chains; but recover us, that we may awake to do Thy will. Lord, Thou knowest all our desire, and our secret sighing is not hidden from Thee. Into Thy hands I commend my soul and my prayer; give what Thou seest fit, and fit us for what Thou givest. Give us wisdom to abound, or patience to suffer need; and where the Master placed us, there to be content. Let all our work be done well before we come to die; and let us be gathered into Thine arms, as the harvesters gather a shock in full season. Let our death be happy; and our happiness beyond the power of death - Amen.

-- ROWLAND WILLIAMS (words in bold type by blog author) Life magazine archive image of a mother and her sleeping child taken by unknown Victorian photographer in 1855

August the Ninth

LET all Thy works praise Thee, O Lord, and Thy servants rejoice in thanking Thee. True is Thy word, which counts us worthy of pity, and faithful Thy help for our heart's trust to rest upon. O God, Thy strength is made perfect in those who have not cared for themselves, but so9ught the eternal; then Thou bringest forth truth to victory. Make known to me Thy ways, O God, and let me walk in Thy truth. Go on, O God, victoriously and open me the gate of hope, out of darkness into light. Since Thou hast not taken me away in the midst of my day, but upholden my soul in life, suffer not my feet to slip. Grant me a work of Thy love to do, and prosper it in my hands. Let me not die until I have fulfilled Thy will; and let me enter with joy into rest - Amen.

-- ROWLAND WILLIAMS
Life magazine archive photo: Ukranian women harvesting wheat

April The Twenty-Second

SHOW Thyself, O Lord, and have pity on Thy child, and bring his steps into the way of peace.
Thou that knowest our thoughts, make Thyself known to our hearts; Thou that art from everlasting, let us behond Thy truth. Hast Thou not made our souls in Thy likeness? Take away stain from the glass, and let us behold in it Thine image. When Thou willest, Thy word goeth forth; Thou breathest forth Thy love, and our souls are joined to Thee. Take away from me shame and rebuke; renew in me Thy strength, and show me the way to peace. Turn me again, and I shall be turned; take away the darkness which hideth Thee, and in the light of the living God let me see light - Amen.

- ROWLAND WILLIAMS

March The Nineteenth

O THOU Hope of all the ends of the earth; Thou in whom our fathers hoped, and were not confounded; Thou, who knowest whereof we are made, and whereby our shortcoming, have pity on us, O Lord. O Helper of the helpless, and Stronger than the strong, remember all who are in distress of mind, body, or estate; succor them according to their need. It is meet and right, in all things, for all men, in joy and sorrow, alone and all together, to remember and worship Thee, to trust in Thee, and praise Thee, Lord and Father, King and God, Fountain of life and immortality, Source of everlasting good. Thee all the heavens hymn, and higher spirits praise, crying to each other, or going on the work which Thou givest them, and so perfecting praise. Blessed be the Dweller of Eternity, my Strength and my Deliverer, my Salvation and my Refuge, for ever - Amen.

- ROWLAND WILLIAMS