Not only shall we praise His grace divine,
But we praise Him through that grace divine.
Repent, rejoice, and reconcile to our God
Our wills that once, but no more, gone astray.
Bless His name that blessed us with His blood,
Come we to the waters and the way.

When drops from the sacrament cup
Fall from my lips to my fingers
I love the coolness and smoothness
Sanctified to my soul--
The cool of night and
Stillness of the grove
When Jesus the Christ
Saved me.

Did the drops from His face
Sound in the dark against His hands?

My heart may turn
with the daily turning of the earth,
but, Lord, I will ever turn to Thee.

Perfect stillness
I have not achieved,
so, Lord, I will ever turn to Thee.

The choices to return
From my turnings on the earth-
O Lord, may I ever turn to Thee.

Everyone once, once only. Just once and no more.
And we also once. Never again. But this having been
once,  although only once, to have been of the earth,
seems irrevocable.

                                            --Rilke, Duino Elegies

Dedication

To my Rescuer
I dedicate these thanks.
And as token of my gratitude
I offer you my time
For you have given me eternity.

True
Through and through
Melded and welded to righteousness.
Honest faith, honest works
Humble continuity in my new life.
A Sunday way of life
Every day of my life.
Making this gospel my own,
Living the parables
Bearing the burdens
Sharing the yoke that is easy to lift.
It is easy, brings comfort
When embraced in my heart,
When worn every moment,
When borne as my cross.
My actions agree
With my inmost beliefs.
Conversion, when true,
Makes you and me free.

Emblems

Reverently I take the bread,
     Soft and sweet,
Chew and swallow this symbol of Christ.
Teeth grind the bread,
Lashes on the back
Foreign sorrows pressed into his soul.
The cool water,
     Refreshing,
An emblem of blood given in agony.