August 7, 2013

August 7, 2013

(Please Read: Google has reintroduced the thumbnails at the bottom of the photos after you double click on any image. All photographs are mine unless otherwise noted.)

   Below are photos taken this last Sunday at Acadia National Park during a late day visit somewhere around four PM. I will let them and the Akathist speak for themselves. The last photo is from the Farmsworth Museum in Rockland Maine taken in a hall staircase while I was waiting for Lee to come out of the gallery she was in. I believe it is a painting by N.C. Wyeth. Sunday was a good day for us.

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The Akathist Hymn: "Glory to God for All Things"

Kontakion 2

   O Lord, how lovely it is to be Your guest. Breeze full of scents; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the sun's golden rays and the scudding clouds. All nature murmurs mysteriously, breathing the depth of tenderness. Birds and beasts of the forest bear the imprint of Your love. Blessed art You, mother earth, in Your fleeting loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last forever, in the land where, amid beauty that grows not old, the cry rings out: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

   You have brought me into life as into an enchanted paradise. We have seen the sky like a chalice of deepest blue, where in the azure heights the birds are singing. We have listened to the soothing murmur of the forest and the melodious music of the streams. We have tasted fruit of fine flavor and the sweet-scented honey. We can live very well on Your earth. It is a pleasure to be Your guest.

Glory to You for the Feast Day of life
Glory to You for the perfume of lilies and roses
Glory to You for each different taste of berry and fruit
Glory to You for the sparkling silver of early morning dew
Glory to You for the joy of dawn's awakening
Glory to You for the new life each day brings
Glory to You, O God, from age to age 

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     (A poem from this years Retreat at Eastern Point, Gloucester Mass. on the ocean East of Boston)  

- On Retreat, May 16, 2013 –

 I am,

A fish, who breathes the air of God's Oceans

I am,

The entire Ocean and all who remember Creation there

I am,

A drop of water, a single drop

I am,

All the rain that is, all the rain that will be

I am,

A bird in flight

I am,

All the wind that supports all that flies in God's Air

I am,

The night's darkness

I am,

All the stars, the moon, the universe, galaxies galore

I am,

A single flower, a blade of grass reaching for the Sun

I am,

The Sun, the Wind, alive in Creation's Eternal Song

I am God's Gospel

The Book of Hope

The Living Water

I am,

The Air of the Spirit that I breathe –

God is in me

There is no more to be said,

no amen, no period

the prayer of lover and Love never stops

                                                     

                                              Bill Lagerstrom   

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Some humor about security news in Maine:

Until next week,

    Bill Lagerstrom