Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus!

Hail, Thou once despised Jesus! Hail, Thou Galilean King!
Thou didst suffer to release us; Thou didst free salvation bring.
Hail, Thou universal Savior! Thou has borne our sin and shame;
By Thy merits we find favor; Life is given through Thy name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, All our sins were on Thee laid;
By almighty love annointed, Thou hast full atonement made.
Every sin may be forgiven through the virtue of Thy blood;
Opened is the gate of heaven; Peace is made 'twixt man and God.
                                                             John Bakewell, 1757 
                                             

Patrick's Prayer

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three;
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

and just for fun:

When Irish eyes are smiling
  and Irish smiles are big,
When Irish hearts are hopeful
  and the piper plays a jig,
When Irish stew is bubblin'
  and the soda bread is hot,
And Irish tea is steepin'
   in a little Irish pot...
When the room is warm
   with laughter
 and the songs are bright and bold
And there's poetry and magic
  in the stories that are told...
Isn't it a blessing?
Isn't it just grand
  to know a little part of you
     belongs to Ireland?
                       -author unknown

 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,

because His compassions fail not,

They are new every morning:

Great is Thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

A Prayer for America from 1844

God bless our native land!
Firm may she ever stand,
   Through storm and night;
When the wild tempests rave,
Ruler of winds and wave!
Do Thou our country save,
   By Thy great might.

For her our prayer shall rise
To God above the skies;
   on Him we wait;
Thou, who art ever nigh,
Guardian with watchful eye!
To Thee aloud we cry
   God save the state!
                     John S. Dwight, 1844

My help cometh from the Lord,

which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:2