In honor of Larry Benfield’s 17 years of service as bishop of Arkansas, and his six years as rector of Christ Church, the Christ Church Compline Choir performed an anthem composed especially for him. David William Blackmon, a long-time member of the choir, is the composer. It was sung at Bishop Benfield’s retirement service this evening. Thank you, David, for the beautiful creation. Thank you, Compline Choir, for brining it to life. Thank you, Larry, for inspiring it.
O God of unchangeable power, and eternal light:
Lumen aeternum
look favorably on your Shrine,
that wonderful sacred mystery:
sacramentum:
by work of your providence, the plan of your salvation.
Let the whole world see,
experiatur,
The fallen raised up, the old ones renewed,
and all things made whole, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
In unity with the Holy Spirit,
for ever one God. Amen.
The text is based on an 8th century collect from the Gelasian Sacramentary. A version of the collect is found in several places in the Book of Common Prayer. The bishop says it during ordination services.
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.