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St. Gabriel and All Angels
The Liberal Catholic Church in Fairfield, Iowa
Dedication anniversary - September 19 - Trinity 16
Scriptures and Hymns • September 19
Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church • The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Procession of Consecration
The procession begins in the chancel
The bishop recites a special collect. The people respond: Amen.
The procession moves to the southeast cross
- BLESSED city, heavenly Salem,
Vision dear of peace and love,
Who of living stones art builded
In the height of heaven above,
And, with Angel hosts encircled,
As a bride doth earthward move; - From celestial realms descending,
Bridal glory round thee shed,
Meet for him whose love espoused thee,
To thy Lord shalt thou be led;
All thy streets, and all thy bulwarks
Of pure gold are fashionèd.
The procession stops at the southeast cross
Collect response: Amen.
The procession moves to the southwest cross
- Many a blow and biting sculpture
Polished well those stones elect,
In their places now compacted
By the heavenly architect,
Who therewith hath willed for ever
That His Palace should be decked.
The procession stops at the southwest cross
Collect response: Amen.
The procession moves to the west cross
- Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and corner-stone,
Chosen of the Lord, and precious,
Binding all the Church in one,
Holy Zion's help for ever
And her confidence alone.
The procession stops at the west cross
Collect response: Amen.
The procession moves to the northwest cross
- All that dedicated city,
Dearly loved of God on high,
In exultant jubilation
Pours perpetual melody,
God the One in Three adoring,
In glad hymns eternally.
The procession stops at the northwest cross
Collect response: Amen.
The procession moves to the northeast cross
- To this temple, where we call Thee,
Come, O Lord of hosts, to-day;
With Thy wonted lovingkindness
Hear Thy servants, as they pray:
And Thy fullest benediction
Shed within its walls alway.
The procession stops at the northeast cross
Collect response: Amen.
The procession moves to the center cross
- Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants
What they ask of thee to gain.
What they gain from Thee for ever
With the blessed to retain
And hereafter in Thy glory
Evermore with Thee to reign.
The procession stops at the center cross
Collect response: Amen.
The procession returns to the chancel
- Laud and honour to the Father,
Laud and honour to the Son,
Laud and honour to the Spirit,
Ever three, and ever one,
Consubstantial, co-eternal,
While unending ages run. Amen.
The Collect
O CHRIST our royal Master, we pray thee to accept and ever to hallow this temple which we have now dedicated to thy holy name; may the incense of praise and thanksgiving rise ever within its walls and may the lives of those who worship here be truly in accordance with thy most holy will, who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God throughout all ages of ages. Amen.
The Epistle
The portion of scripture appointed for the epistle is taken from the twenty-first chapter of the Revelation of St John the Divine, beginning at the second verse.
AND I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying: Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said: Behold, I make all things new.
The Gospel
The holy gospel is taken from the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel according to St John, beginning at the sixth verse.
JESUS said: I am the way, the truth and the life; no one cometh unto the Father but by me. He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; for I am in the Father and the Father in me. I and my Father are one; as the Father hath loved me so have I loved you; and this is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Offertory Hymn 222
- Holy God, we praise your name;
Lord of all, we bow before you.
Saints on earth your rule acclaim;
All in heaven above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain;
everlasting is your reign. - Hark, the glad celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heavens with sweet accord:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord!” - Lo, the apostolic train
joins your sacred name to hallow;
prophets swell the glad refrain,
and the white-robed martyrs follow;
and from morn to set of sun,
through the church the song goes on. - Holy Father, holy Son,
Holy Spirit, three we name you,
though in essence only one;
undivided God, we claim you,
and, adoring, bend the knee
while we own the mystery. Amen.
Litany
- GOD the Father, seen of none,
God the co-eternal Son,
God the Spirit—Three in One,
Hear us, Holy Trinity. - Son of God and Prince of Light,
Throned in glory, robed in might,
Morning Star, serene and bright,
Christ our Lord, we hail Thee. - Captain of the Hosts of Light,
Overcoming sin's dark blight,
Ever-glowing splendour bright,
Son of God, we hail Thee. - Thou, before whose purging ray
Mists of evil fade away;
Orb of everlasting day,
Son of God, we hail Thee. - Thou, whose wisdom all things planned,
Held by whose almighty Hand
All things in their order stand,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee. - Thou, whose life and strength pervade
Whatsoever Thou hast made,
All-Preserver, strong to aid,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee. - Thou, whose beauty, like a star
Throbbing in the void afar,
Only earth-born clouds can mar,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee. - Thou whose universal might
Saints acclaim with mystic rite,
Clad in robes of dazzling light,
Christ our Lord, we hail Thee. - Thou for whom in heavenly choir,
Angel forms of living fire
Wake the everlasting lyre,
Christ our Lord, we hail Thee. - Lord of Wisdom, from whose lore
Wisest men of earth may store
Riches new for evermore,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee. - Still in bounty, Lord, bestow
Blessings on Thy Church below,
Till her measure overflow;
King of Glory, hear us. - King of Salem, Priest Divine,
Thou, whose love hath sealed us Thine
Through Thy mystic Bread and Wine,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee. - Priest and Victim, whom of old
Type and prophecy foretold,
Thee Incarnate we behold;
Son of God, we hail Thee. - Purged in vision through Thy grace
We by faith may see Thy Face,
Feel Thee near in every place,
Christ our Lord, we hail Thee. - Ruth divine that givest heed
Unto every cry of need,
Healing balm to hearts that bleed,
Help us, holy Master. - Healer of the souls distressed,
Happiness of all the blest,
Peace of those who long for rest;
We, Thy Church, adore Thee. - Sweet Physician, skilled to heal
Every pang the soul can feel,
Thou that hearest each appeal;
Help us, holy Master. - Lest by thought or action base,
Ignorant, we slight Thy grace,
Lest we hide from us Thy Face,
Help us, holy Master. - That our hearts may win release,
That our hands from ill may cease,
That our souls may know Thy peace,
Help us, holy Master. - That, from selfish lusts made free,
Each, at length, clear-eyed may see—
See, and tread, the path to Thee,
Help us, holy Master. - Till, our pilgrimage complete,
Rest shall come and comfort sweet,
Friend of pilgrims, at Thy Feet,
Son of God, we hail Thee. - God the Father, seen of none,
God the co-eternal Son,
God the Spirit—Three in One,
We are Thine, O Trinity.
Recessional Hymn 43
- ROUND the Sacred City gather
Moab, Edom, Babylon;
All the warring hosts of error
Joined against her, move as one.
Vain the leaguer! her foundations
Are upon the holy hills.
And the love of the Eternal
All her stately temple fills. - Get thee, watchman, to the rampart!
Gird thee, warrior, with thy sword!
Be ye strong as ye remember
That amidst you is the Lord;
Like the night mists from the valley
These shall vanish one by one,
Moab’s malice, Edom’s envy.
And the hate of Babylon. - But be true, ye sons and daughters,
Lest the peril be within;
Be alert, lest while ye slumber,
Stealthy foemen enter in;
Safe the mother and the children,
If their will and love be strong,
While their loyal hearts go singing
Thanks and praise for battle-song. - Church of God, our hearts remember
All the debt to thee we owe,
All the gracious help thou givest
All the powers through thee that flow.
So to thee shall we be steadfast.
Though the world’s foundations shake,
Love of thee is love for ever,
Love of thee for Christ’s dear sake. - Church of Christ, upon thy banner
Gleams the splendour of His sign;
By His own most gracious promise
Thou art His, and He is thine;
From the heart of the Eternal
Flows thy Sacramental tide;
From the height of Christ’s Ascension
Flows the love which is thy guide. - God the Spirit dwells within thee,
His Society Divine,
His the living word thou keepest,
His thy Apostolic line.
Ancient chant and song liturgic,
Creeds that change not to the end,
As His gift we have received them,
As His charge we will defend. - Alleluia, Alleluia,
To the Father, Spirit, Son,
In Whose will the Church at warfare
With the Church at rest is one;
So to Thee we sing in union,
God in earth and Heaven adored,
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord. Amen.