This Christian hymn was traditionally attributed to St. Patrick during his ministry in Ireland in the 5th century, but most believe it was written later in 8th century.  In any case it reflects Patrick’s faith.  Note: In some versions, “I bind” is translated “I arise.”  The word “virtue” can also be rendered “strength.”

I bind myself today to a strong virtue, an invocation of the Trinity.
I believe in a Threeness, with confesssion of an Oneness in the Creator of the Universe.

I bind myself today to the virtue of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
to the virtue of his crucifixion with his burial,
to the virtue of his resurrection with his ascension,
to the virtue of his coming to the Judgment of Doom.

I bind myself today to the virtue of ranks of Cherubim,
in obedience of Angels,
[in service of Archangels]
in hope of resurrection for reward,
in prayers of Patriarchs,
in preaching of Apostles,
in faiths of Confessors,
in innocence of Holy Virgins,
in deeds of righteous men.

I bind myself today to the virtue of Heaven,
In light of Sun,
In brightness of Snow
In splendour of Fire,
In speed of Lightning,
In swiftness of Wind,
In depth of Sea,
In stability of Earth,
In compactness of Rock.

I bind myself today to God’s Virtue to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s Word to speak to me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me,
Against snares of demons,
Against seductions of vices,
Against lusts of nature,
Against every one who wishes ill to me,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.

So have I invoked all these virtues between me, and these
against every cruel, merciless power which may come against my body and my soul
against incantations of false prophets,
against black laws of heathenry,
against false laws of heretics,
against craft of idolatry,
against spells of women and smiths and druids,
against every knowledge that defiles men’s souls.

Christ to protect me today,
Against poison, against burning, against drowning, against death-wound,
Until a multitude of rewards come to me!

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me!
Christ below me, Christ above me.
Christ at my right, Christ at my left!
Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height!

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me

I bind myself today to a strong virtue, an invocation of the Trinity.
I believe in a Threeness with confession of a Oneness, in the Creator.
Salvation is the Lord’s, salvation is the Lord’s, salvation is Christ’s
May Thy salvation, O Lord, be always with us.

Here is the prayer as sung by Angelina that we found courtesy of The Rev. James Richardson.

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If you would like a devotional guide for these days, click here for one published by St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Harlem, NY

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Their repertoire represents many musical styles, including traditional men’s choral music, spirituals, jazz arrangements, hymns, folk songs, and contemporary Christian music. The ensemble regularly performs newly commissioned works by APU faculty, students, and contemporary composers, and appears in concert throughout the year.

Men’s Chorale has appeared on numerous occasions at Disneyland’s annual Community Artist’s Showcase as well as for the Plotkin Memorial Foundation in Orange County. In addition, they have produced numerous custom recordings including their latest release album, Na Kane.

They have appeared with Broadway star Linda Eder at the APU Festival of Christmas concert in Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and they have also appeared with the Ralph Carmichael Big Band in concert under the direction of Ralph Carmichael himself.

Men’s Chorale tours annually, including recent appearances at the USS Missouri in Hawaii and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. In recent years, tours have included performances throughout the western United States as well as internationally to Romania where they performed at schools, churches, and orphanages.

In May 2012, they will embark on their first musical tour to the East Coast where they will perform at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. and will conclude the tour with multiple concert appearances at churches from New York to Michigan.

To schedule a peformance in New York City in May 2012, contact Special Advisor to the President, Dr. Andrea McAleenan by clicking here.

The APU Men’s Chorale singing inside the Darling Library at Azusa Pacific University for the 400th year Celebration of the King James Bible.

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The Rev. Sabrina Chandler

Guest blogger, The Reverend Sabrina Chandler serves as Deacon at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Harlem, NY

There is power in ‘the story’.

This is true whether it is the story of a family, the story of a community, or the story of a people. Knowing ‘the story’ can transform how we define ourselves, how we see the world, and how we engage with the people around us. And once we have embraced the story, we are empowered in the telling of the story.

I think this is what Black History Month is really all about. To tell the story of how a people made, and continue to make, an incredible difference in the world despite all of the horrific challenges we have faced. It is a story that has the power to change how African Americans define ourselves, how we see the world, and how we engage with others around us. It creates a sense of what we can accomplish – in the face of a culture that has always told us that we are less than; unworthy, even invisible. And, when we tell the story, we are empowered.

This is no less true of us as God’s people. Telling our story as God’s people, collectively and personally, is powerful and empowering. It is one of the most important things that we can do as we seek to transform the world for Christ. It does not take special training or ability. It only requires a willingness to tell of three things:

What God has done; What God Can do; and What God Will do!

The first is our Witness; the second, our Declaration of Freedom; and the third, our Statement of Faith! These three things are also what Black History Month is about – History, Freedom and Faith.

In Scripture, God reminds us of the importance of remembering and sharing about the key places where God met and changed us. In the Old Testament, Joshua 3 and 4, God performs a miracle at the river Jordan – almost identical to that at the Red Sea when Israel was delivered from Egypt and the wrath of Pharaoh. This event cements Joshua’s new leadership status, and reassures the people of God’s power to fulfill His promise: new life in a land of milk and honey’. Here, God reminds them of what He has already done, what He is able to do, and what He is about to do! They are directed to create a memorial fashioned from rocks taken from the middle of the riverbed, so that when their children ask, “What do these rocks mean?” the story of God’s power and awesomeness might be told to all generations.

In the New Testament, as we come to the Communion Table, Jesus commands us to stop and remember a moment in time. We commune with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are reminded of What God Has done, What God Can do, and What God will do. We revisit the touchtone of ‘the Cross’ of suffering and redemption; and we draw strength from the History, Freedom and Faith that can be found there.

During this season of Black History Month, we stop and revisit the touchstones of African-American accomplishment and perseverance despite our troubled past. And from those touchstones we draw strength from the History, Freedom and Faith that can be found there.

What are the prompts or the touchstones that God has placed in your life? The points where you have built a perpetual memorial in your own mind and heart, reminding you of what God has done, what God can do, and your hope for what God will do?

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God will take care of you
Through every day, o’er all the way
He will care for you
God will take care of you

O good and loving God, you indeed, have taken care of us.

Even today, Lord you took care of us.
Thank you for waking us up this morning, clothing us in our right mind, giving us a measure of health.

But you are not only the God of our yesterdays and God of our sorrows…you are God of our tomorrows.

So we thank you for letting us see another year.

Indeed, We are witness to your tender and constant care.

So with the gospel songwriter we can testify today that…

Regardless the vicissitutudes of life, God will take care of you;

When the shadows come, God will take care of you;

When friends and family forsake, God will take care of you;

When you stand at life’s final river, God will take care of you.

For your generous and gracious goodness,
Your bountiful blessings,
Your matchless mercy,

We say “Thank you, Lord.”

Even when we turned away and hid our faces from you, you, like a hound of heaven sought us out and
called our name in the garden…

You walked with us, and
You talked with us.
And you told us we are your own.
The joy we shared as we tarried there,
None other has ever known.

But we can tarry no longer…

We have crossed the threshfold of a new year,
And stand just inside the doorway of that first of 365 “rooms” — days of opportunity and new beginning.

So we give you our memories — both good and bad — of that which lies behind us…and,
We press on to the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

Oh, we do not know what the future holds; but we know who holds the future…

And you have given us a glimpse in the Sacred Word of your desired future.

So thank you for allowing us the possibility of being your partner in goodness — in seeing

…That your will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

…That justice rolls down like waters, and your righteousness as a mighty stream;

…That there be peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Give us grit and grace to be about your will:

About rejoicing always;
About praying without ceasing;
About giving thanks in all things;
About being sanctified through and through;
About loving our neighbor as we love ourselves;
About overcoming evil with good;
About feeding the hungry;
About clothing the naked;
About setting the captives free;
About doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with you, 0 Lord.

And we start our sacred service this hour remembering those among us who need a touch, need a prayer answered.
Whose names were spoken and those unspoken, known only to you.

Walk among us. Pour upon those in need new light of your incarnate Word, your incarnate son you gave the holy
name of Jesus, Savior. Stop by that person in the pew, in a hospital bed, alone in an apartment and save
someone today.

Now Awaken us! Keep us alert and mindful this year that the babe of Bethlehem is King of Kings and Lord of
Lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End…that at his name, every knee will bow.

Remind us always that he said he came that first Christmas Day so we might have life and have it abundantly.

And then keep on reminding us Lord, that you are the God whose
power is at work within us, and able to do exceedingly,
abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.

And so we pray today: “Be it unto us.”

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirt, one God, in glory everlasting.

And all God’s children said: Amen.

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Here is a speakers’ service that connects you with organizations, companies, churches, community groups, businesses that are all looking to schedule speakers.

SpeakerMatch is offering a very special discount on its services but it is only good until Wednesday, December 28

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Go here to see their online Christmas greeting card.

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David Welch

Guest blogger, David Welch, holds various leadership positions at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Harlem.  The following is from a presentation he made to a Men’s Breakfast at St. Mark’s on October 29 2011.

This Fellowship Breakfast is the result of the Methodist Men of St. Mark’s asking ourselves: How do we begin to reach the men in our community, to engage them first in a conversation, to be followed up by action? A conversation about taking a leadership role in their respective communities. Those of  us who are members of St. Mark’s believe that God has called us to his purpose. That purpose being making disciples for Jesus Christ.

Now, recognizing that everyone is not a believer, we can all agree, however, that the condition of “ Males” in our community is, for lack of a better word, deplorable. Just walk up and down any major thoroughfare and watch as young men and boys (what sociologist call urban youth) swagger, with their pants half down their behind, accented by a studded belt. All you can do is shake your head. Listen to their language…my, the “N” word is used as a term of endearment. It is considered a sign of respect, which of course is a perversion from its original meaning.

Sadly these are not just fads, I have counted and we are in the fourth year of this culture, with no glimmer of any positive change coming. This past Monday a 15 year old youth was arrested in Queens, accused of two attempted rapes on women much older. While in Brooklyn last Friday afternoon, a mother of thirteen children was senselessly gunned down by stray bullet while trying to protect children exiting the school building. An 18 year old youth according to police has confessed to firing the fatal bullet. I could go on…..

Then we have the opposite paradigm, Grown men Forty and above, highly educated, working, many with high level positions in the corporate world as well as government, literally hiding in their condominiums and brownstones. The only time you see them is when they are going or coming from work. On weekends, you rarely see them. There is no interaction with the community outside of their domain. This includes church and community organizations( such as Community Boards, District School Boards, Police Precinct Councils). They are living in what I call a bubble of what’s left of Middle Class privilege.

I ask God ,” Who is going to do the work of bringing the message of Christ’s salvation to all communities?”

Now the purpose? To Coax, Lure, Challenge Men from both paradigms, urban Hip  Hop culture and urban Middle Class Corporate culture to answer God’s call to service. Who’s going to do the work? I will; I pray that you will also.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, Chapter.5 vs. 13-15 “For you were called to freedom brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom for self indulgence, but through love  become slaves to one another, for the whole Law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (An illustration of this would be” Black on Black crime” black males killing each other over foolishness, then telling themselves they are ‘cool”And “macho.”)

I end with Paul’s exhortation to the church at Galatia, chapter 6 verses 7-10: “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked , for you reap what you sow. If you sow to your own flesh you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all,and especially for those of the Family of Faith.”

What do you think?  Share your thoughts and ideas.

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For more resources, visit TheShalomZone.com

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