“Every Deed of Love and Kindness”

Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852-1933) was an American author, educator, diplomat, and Presbyterian clergyman. He served as a pastor in Rhode Island and New York City for many years before becoming a professor of English at Princeton University in 1900. During his lifetime he wrote many books, essays, and poems, one of which I offer below.
 
You will note, in reading it, the twin emphases on “labor” and “rest.” Perhaps I have Arts in the Park on my mind, or my feet and back are reminding me just how much “toil” was expended this weekend. Indeed, parking cars in the hot sun makes it hard to “work without complaining” or conclude that “toil is good.” Raise your hand if you felt like a “burden bearer” this weekend! Still, it is the recurring message of the Gospel that work done in his Name is always good and worthy, and can result in peace–and in the words of the VanDyke below, even “sets the soul free.” 
 
So, before I sign off and leave you to consider these beautiful and meaningful lines below, I want to thank those who worked at our 2nd largest fundraising event of the Creator calendar year. Arts in the Park is still a vital means of income for our parish, and it is a project immediately and directly made easier by the number of volunteers who help. Thank you to those who came to park and those who prayed us through. Thank you especially to our “double shifters” (and triple and quadruple shifters-those who worked the entire weekend), to our “first timers,” who braved the unknown, and to Don and Elizabeth Lafoon, our fearless leaders who oversaw the event and dealt with all the staffing and stress and PR, to name just a few “toils” they faced. 
 
Let us all thank God, who gives us this opportunity to work and to fellowship in His Name, commit ourselves to a “good-fit, can-do” way of helping next year, and when you see Don, give him a hearty thanks for leading us in “deeds of love and kindness.” 
 
Blessings and gratitude,
Fr. Bill
 
Jesus, Thou Divine Companion
 
Jesus, Thou divine Companion,
By Thy lowly human birth
Thou hast come to join the workers,
Burden bearers of the earth.
Thou, the Carpenter of Nazareth,
Toiling for Thy daily food,
By Thy patience and Thy courage,
Thou hast taught us toil is good.
 
They who tread the path of labor
Follow where Thy feet have trod;
They who work without complaining
Do the holy will of God.
Thou, the Peace that passeth knowledge,
Dwellest in the daily strife;
Thou, the Bread of heaven, broken
In the sacrament of life.
 
Every task, however simple,
Sets the soul that does it free;
Every deed of love and kindness
Done to man is done to Thee.
Jesus, Thou divine Companion,
Help us all to do our best;
Bless in our daily labor,
Lead us to the Sabbath rest.
 
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Bill+