Saturday, December 16, 2006

Seabees Memorial 3

The words to this prayer, can you find them out?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The first part that I can read is
"Eternal Father, Strong to Save".
The original words were written as a hymn by a schoolmaster and clergyman of the Church of England, the Rev. William Whiting(1825-1878). He resided on the English coast near the sea and had once survived a furious storm in the Mediterranean. His experiences inspired him to pen the ode.

Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at They word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the caos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

I put the whole hymn, but it looks like they just put the first verse on the memorial.

The second part that I can read is the Sailors Hymn.
Lord, stand beside the men who build
And give them courage, strength, and skill.
O grant them peace of heart and mind,
And comfort loved ones left behind.
Lord, hear ou prayer for all Seabees,
Where'er they be on land or sea.
R.J. Dietrich 1960

De'on Miller said...

That's beautiful, Karen. I figured you'd get it or already had it. The words are beautiful. I especially like the hymn and the story behind it.

Of all God's creation, I think it's the seas that frighten and impress me the most. An unknown world with its own life and codes, not impressed by us at all.