Today the Catholic and Anglican traditions remember Edward the Confessor, the last Anglo Saxon king of England. Known for his deep faith, piety, and devotion to God, his reign is marked by the laws he established to protect the weak and poor, his accessibility to his subjects, and his generosity.

Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Edward the Confessor, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last, with him, we attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen. (BCP)

Photo source: historic-uk.com

Two stalwart trees both rooted

In faith and holy love,

By hope of God united

They reach to heaven above.

One on a cross is martyred,

One by the sword is slain;

both triumph in their dying,

both glorious sainthood gain.

The words of Paul assure us

Of Christ’s redeeming word;

The works of Peter show us

How we may serve the Lord.

All glory to the Father,

All glory to the Son,

Who with the Holy Spirit,

now reign, blest Three in One.

Lyrics: Translated by Anne K. LeCroy

Bring all things into tune.”

O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!
Thy winds, thy wide grey skies!
Thy mists, that roll and rise!
Thy woods, this autumn day, that ache and sag
And all but cry with colour! That gaunt crag
To crush! To lift the lean of that black bluff!
World, World, I cannot get thee close enough!

Long have I known a glory in it all,
But never knew I this;
Here such a passion is
As stretcheth me apart,--Lord, I do fear
Thou'st made the world too beautiful this year;
My soul is all but out of me,--let fall
No burning leaf; prithee, let no bird call.

Today was the first day in quite a while that it wasn’t freezing all day long so I grabbed a blanket and a book and sat out on the back porch with the birds and squirrels. Perfect Sunday afternoon.

source of purest pleasure,

truest Friend to me;

Long my heart hath panted

till it well nigh fainted,

thirsting after Thee.

Thine I am, O spotless Lamb,

I will suffer nought to hide Thee,

ask for nought beside Thee.

In Thine arms I rest me,

foes who would oppress me

cannot reach me here;

though the earth be shaking,

every heart be quaking,

Jesus calms my fear;

sin and hell in conflict fell

with their heaviest storms assail me.

Jesus will not fail me.

Satan, I defy thee;

death, I need not fly thee;

fear, I bid thee cease!

Rage, O world, thy noises

cannot drown our voices

singing still of peace;

for God’s power guards every hour;

earth and all the depths adore Him,

silent bow before Him.

Wealth, I will not heed thee;

wherefore should I need thee?

Jesus is my joy;

honors, ye may glisten,

but I will not listen,

ye the soul destroy;

want or loss or shame or cross

never to leave my Lord shall move me,

since He deigns to love me.

Farewell, thou who choosest earth,

and heaven refusest,

thou wilt tempt in vain;

hence, ye sins, nor blind me,

get ye far behind me,

come not forth again:

past your hour,

O pomp and power;

godless life, thy bonds I sever,

leave thee now forever!

Hence, all thoughts of sadness,

for the Lord of gladness,

Jesus, enters in;

those who love the Father,

though the storms may gather,

still have peace within;

yea, whatever I here must bear,

Thou art still my purest pleasure,

Jesus, priceless Treasure!