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The altar

March 6, 2023 by Fillmore County Journal Leave a Comment

By Pastor Jeff Jacobs

Unity Lutheran Parish – St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger

One of my favorite poets is George Herbert, who is commemorated in the Lutheran church on the date of his death, March 1, 1633.  He was born April 3, 1593, in Montgomery, Wales, into an aristocratic family.  In 1609 he began studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, where in 1616 he became a lecturer, then eventually became a member of Parliament in 1624.

Yet not long afterward Herbert took steps toward becoming an Anglican deacon, and in 1629 he was ordained a priest and began serving two small parishes near Salisbury, England.  Never being in good health, unfortunately, George Herbert died only four years later.

But one of his great legacies is a collection of poetry he had privately worked on for years, which his friend Nicholas Ferrar published after his death, titling it The Temple.  I share one of the first works in that volume, which you’ll see is a “shape” poem, a common literary device of the time, visually portraying its content.  May it enhance your Lenten reflection.

A   broken   ALTAR,   Lord,  thy  servant  rears,

Made  of  a  heart,  and  cemented  with  tears:

Whose  parts  are  as  thy  hand  did  frame;

No workman’s tool hath touch’d the same.

A   H E A R T  alone

Is    such    a    stone,

As      nothing      but

Thy  power  doth  cut.

Wherefore  each  part

Of   my    hard   heart

Meets  in  this   frame,

To  praise  thy   name.

That  if  I  chance  to   hold   my   peace,

These stones to praise thee may not cease.

Oh  let  thy  blessed  S A C R I F I C E  be  mine,

And    sanctify   this    A L T A R     to    be    thine.

Filed Under: Columnists, Faith & Worship


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