Aye,
Our Administrator had sent me a private message late last evening with an update (not the one shared in my previous post) which did allow me to mention him for informal prayers during our education time which precedes the Litury, as well as during the the Prayer of the Faithful in the Liturgy.
For us it is the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord: The Hymn which we sing at this feast has as its third verse one that addresses this situation very well:
"Songs of Thankfulness and Praise"
by Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885
1. Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise,
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David's stem,
In Thy birth at Bethlehem.
Anthems be to Thee addressed
God in flesh made manifest.
2. Manifest at Jordan's stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme,
And at Cana, Wedding-guest,
In Thy Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine,
Changing water into wine.
Anthems be to Thee addressed
God in flesh made manifest.
3. Manifest in making whole
Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight,
Quelling all the devil's might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever bringing good from ill.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in flesh made manifest.4. Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine,
All will see His glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear,
All will see the Judge appear;
Thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in flesh made manifest.
5. Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Mirrored in Thy holy Word;
May we imitate Thee now
And be pure as pure art Thou
That we like to Thee may be
At Thy great Epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blest,
God in flesh made manifest.
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #134
Text: 1 Peter 1:20
Author: Christopher Wordsworth, 1862
Tune:
Salzburg [
ccel.org]