THE BOOK OF PRIESTS:
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It had become the practice of the holy priests to burn incense inside the Great Meeting Hall of Mithar, early in the morning hours. Just before daybreak, the priest would open its great round door and ceremoniously chant songs about the Great Departure and one day hope of their kin's savational return. Lamenting prayers began afterwards and then the morning call to prayers for the city dwellers to come forth. At the first call, the people would stand, where ever they were found walking or called to rise from their slumber if in bed and to face the bay's seaward gateway toward the west.
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1 SONGS OF GALADIR
(For Lord Symordare)
Come now and remember the Dead,
For he loved life to its fullest,
breathing in adventures grave and small.
Many paths and lives he wove,
Among the fabric of his own;
A tapestry of interest and caring,
a life of seeking and sharing.
To remember him is to recall
Yourself for we all, here shared
In some brief measure, a smile
before his passing joy and days.
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2 MORNING LIGHT
“Beyond the Sun and Moon peaks
far from the rim of the world
our departed kin are forever
remembered lost from us.
Hope we do ring out our bell
and beacon light shone forth
the way back to us may they
someday welcomingly return.”
~ Lord Vethdema, First High Priest (GD2)
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3 SING UNTO HIM
Let us come and eagerly sing
For GOD sang first of us,
And now we of Him!
No face or limb has He
Yet the warmth of smile,
And strongest arm we know.
Always the loving teacher
Forgiving and willing us to grow,
And opening His knowledge.
He is the One above all others
The Angels were as children unto Him,
And we His humbled servants.
Let us come and early sing
for God sang first of us,
And now we of Him!
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4 TOO LATE
Through all the sorrows and pain
I have seen amazing wondrous things;
Hail the unseen hand of Him,
Who moves my heart in faith.
Death, loss and crippled weaknesses
There has been love, compassion, and empathy;
Hail the unseen hand of Him,
Who moves my heart in faith.
Fear, helplessness and lonely doubt,
The Lord’s joy shines through;
Hail the unseen hand of Him,
Who moves my heart in faith.
Keeping a smile in our soul
Even when they are lost on our faces;
Hail the unseen hand of Him,
Who moves my heart in faith.
Knowing, believing, sharing and doing
For tomorrow it may be too late;
Hail the unseen hand of Him,
Who moves my heart in faith.
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5 THE MOST HIGH
The Most High sees the most low
Water rats, street folk, none
Are far from his watchful gaze;
He whose name is unspeakable.
On the great or small fishing boat
Poor broken home or grand tower
The master of all is maker of all;
He whose name is unspeakable.
Father unknown and mother wayward
Brothers too many for count among the streets;
No matter excuse or reason there is,
God’s purpose always prevails above all.
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6 ABOVE ALL
God is the One and Always
We who follow Him are His children
And glory in His way of peace
We call others to follow in joy.
The Lord is Above is good.
No one can command another
To surrender to his path of learning
But the elite who draw close
To God are obligated to shun the fallen
The Lord above is good.
Encourage the weak to endure
For like the desert many fall away
Do not become weary but thirst
More for His understanding than water.
The Lord above is good.
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7 TO KNOW HIM
I shall raise my voice unto God
For who else knows my inner desires
There is a yearning within that burns
Since childhood has that search been ongoing
As though others cared nothing of me
They seemed distracted in this numb life
As all I ever wanted was more of the next
Where shall my answers be found if not in him?
For the grand architect knows His children
My inner voice cries to know Him
Yet men fail in desire, but for more power
Their strivings have never fulfilled my heart.
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8 BLESSED ONE
May the Blessed One grant us Hope
May the Blessed One grant us Mercy
May the Blessed One grant us Joy
For the Hope, Mercy, and Joy
Of the
Holy Blessed One alone
Can be granted
By Him alone.
We praise the Unspeakable Name
Unspeakable because of our unworthiness
And inability to comprehend His greatness;
Blessed Be The One and Always.
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9 STAND FIRM
The wicked fall by the thousands
Even at the gate of terror they flee
Before the righteous who do battle
With naked faith in truth before the liar.
The Tower stands firm
Illuva-Eru’s hand is on the King!
The four Houses raised the good
But the best are grown to build
Catch, compose and teach others
The Truth, accurate knowledge and Way.
The Tower stands firm
Eru’s hand is upon the King!
Strong minds and will control
The servants to fulfill the Lord’s
Will as they are His strength
Righteous servants venerate His Name.
The Tower stands firm
Illuva’s hand supports the King!
Stand firm in opposition to hate
When persecuted by evil be strengthened
As tested one are like steel swords
Endure the making of a spiritual servant.
The Tower stand firm,
Stand firm for The Tower!
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10 MIGHTY BEYOND
You did not make the changing leaf,
The warring ant or the collecting bee.
You had nothing to do with the clouds,
The making of a rainbow or morning dew.
Mighty beyond reason is GOD.
Where were you when the sea was filled,
The fish given armor or gull’s their wing?
How did you alone craft the mountains,
Fashion valleys or design forest trees?
Mighty beyond reason is GOD.
Neither you nor I performed these works,
They are beyond the very thoughts of any.
How arrogant we are to forget GOD
We frail thoughtless things need humility.
Mighty beyond reason is GOD.
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11 ALWAYS IN HEART
Rain or Shine I will praise Him
In sorrow or joy is He worthy
Mountains or valleys is He forever
Death and birth are in His hands.
Who am I not to speak of God?
Who are you to silence me?
There is nothing we can do better
For who among us can create an ocean
Build the sky or light the stars
None among us can boast of being good;
Yet, we are always in His heart.
~O’bajuth; The Reluctant Prophet
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12 LIFT UP
I lift up my voice to you Oh Lord
the maker of heaven and earth
for I am but nothing in comparison.
Before a thunderstorm is a dragonfly
Weak and hindered in flight
Or against the gale at sea
is a gull made to seek landfall.
None can withstand your hand,
Oh Creator of all that is, for
even in death, you are there
in death, you humble our arrogance
our bones are crushed to ash.
Praise forever your most High
and sacred unspeakable name for
truly unknown and beyond our thoughts
known only to yourself as we all kneel someday.
Before your handiworks, we pale,
in solemn awe, we stand in frailty alone,
unable to comprehend your might.
Gratitude beyond words for allowing us
the briefest aromas of understanding that
you
disbeliefs as we strive in this life.
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(c) 2024 The Eclectic SNOWber Productions
All rights reserved, the logo, scarfed, pipe-smoking polar bear, maps,
and images are all the works of the author.
No "AI" was used in the story conception!
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