WOV #801, "Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise"
Devotion
Thine the kingdom thine the prize, thine the wonder-full surprise
Thine the banquet then the praise, then the justice of thy ways
Thine the glory thine the story then the welcome to the least
Then the wonder all-increasing at thy feast, at thy feast!
In the Harry Potter books, students at Hogwart’s School of Wizardry are always welcomed back to a new academic year with a great and glorious feast. At the simple word of the headmaster, mouth-watering dishes appear at the table, which groans under the abundance. Such a delight to the ears and eyes – and stomach!
Yet even greater, beyond all imagining, is the feast of God. “The wonder all-increasing,” we sing, imagining the banquet yet to come. We taste a hint of that feast – a heavenly hors d’oeuvre – at the Lord’s Supper. Thanks be to God for that feast, and for the feast to come!
Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise. Text: Herbert F. Brokering, b. 1926. Music: Carl Schalk, 1929; © 1983 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
Prayer
God of abundance, you feed us with mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Thank you for this meal where we taste and see that you are good – in Jesus’ name. Amen.