“When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul…”
Lift Every Voice and Sing, #188
The word from this text of the well-known hymn penned by Horatio Gates Spafford, a 19th-Century Presbyterian elder and lawyer, which has been steadfast in my thoughts is that of peace. And that word, peace, is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “freedom from disturbance; tranquility.”
Without a television set (almost 25 years and counting), experiencing only online information, barrages of emails and text messages, and a significant quantity of USPS mailings, the sheer volume of all-things election-related campaign is astounding. In less than 2 ½ weeks, it is Election Day, and a sense of peace lessens each day as the level of anxiety increases. How to find that peace in each day can be daunting.
Though there are multiple references to peace in The Holy Bible, the one passage I have been focusing on is found in Romans 8: 38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” These words bring me peace.
As a parish musician, there has been reflection on the way the poetry/the texts of Christian hymnody might be a devotional tool in the coming days. What follows is an interweaving of prayer (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 258), and familiar hymn texts. May these words be comforting and a reminder of that security, hope, and peace we find in Christ.
Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn: Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light,
Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me on. (LEVAS, #106)
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory,
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, to you that for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed! For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteousness, omnipotent hand. (TH82, #636)
To serve you in freedom and in peace:
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand; bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore, feed me now and evermore. (TH82, #690)
Give to the people of your country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance,
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: for still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe: his craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth; let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, his kingdom is forever. (TH82 #688)
That we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will;
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee; Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not, As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me! (LEVAS #189)
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home:
Under the shadow of thy throne thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure. (TH82 #680)
Soli Deo Gloria.
Karole