Day 233 | Saturday, 7 November 2020

Day 233 - Audio Version

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Day 233 | Saturday, 7 November 2020

 COVID-19 update.  Confirmed cases in the county are now at 1,165 with 322 in zip code 14701; 34 in Lakewood and 295 in Dunkirk.  There are 153 active cases, 778 in isolation or quarantined and 15 deaths, one of which was a Tanglewood resident.

 We are in a beautiful weather pattern for several days.  What a blessing for us to be able to enjoy fall with sunshine and warm temperatures.  I hope my spring bulbs are not fooled into starting to grow.  For the most part, when looking out at the wooded countryside, the trees have become naked until spring.  Thank God for the beauty of the fall colors, fresh apples and cider.  Are donuts limited to fall?

 I should have offered this hymn earlier in the fall, but I just remembered it today.  “For the Beauty of the Earth” words by Folliot S. Pierpoint, 1864.

1.   “For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to the we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”

2.   “For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, Hill and Vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light; Lord of all, to the we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”

3.   “For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and minds delight, for the Mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight; Lord of all, to the we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”

4.   “For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; Lord of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”  

5.   “For thy church, that evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love; Lord of all, to the we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”

6.   “For thyself, best gift divine, to the world so freely given, for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven: Lord of all, to the we raise this our grateful hymn of praise.”

 This is a wonderful hymn of praise and thanksgiving which is very familiar to many of us.  On these beautiful days I cannot help but be thankful for what we have been given.  We have had glorious skies both day and night.  The harvest, blue full moon of last Saturday was spectacular.

With the election process still going on in our country, we may not feel very praiseworthy for each hour of the day and the night.  

The hymn reminds us to reflect on the gifts of our bodies and all the complicated parts and organs and how they function in harmony to help us be who we are.  I like the phrase for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight. 

Then there is encouragement to have gentle thoughts especially for those we love both in our family circle and in the circles of our friendships and in our neighborhood.

Lord, of all, who loves us beyond our understanding, to you we raise our hymn of praise.

 “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia!  Alleluia!   Praise god, the source of all our gifts!  Praise Jesus Christ, whose power up-lifts!  Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!  Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”