PRAYERS AND HYMS OF S.THOMAS' COLLEGE

The Collect for S. Thomas’ College.

Father, who has through many years & by many bountiful servants blessed this College for a house of Faith & Fruitful study, Grant us likewise in this place so to learn truth as to bear its light along all our ways & so to learn Christ as ever to be found in Him, Who liveth & reigneth with Thee & the Holy Spirit, One God world without end. Amen.                                                                                                  

The Prize Giving Prayer.

We give Thee humble & hearty thanks, O Most Merciful Father for the memory & good example of James, first Bishop of Colombo, our founder & for all our Governors & Benefactors, by whose benefit this whole college is brought up to godliness & good learning. We beseech Thee to give us grace to use Thy blessings to the glory of Thy Holy name, that we may answer the good intent of our Religious Founder, & become profitable members of the Church & Nation, & at last be partakers of the immortal glory of the Resurrection, through our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer For The College (By Rev. Cyril William Wood)

O God, from whom cometh every good & perfect gift, send Thy blessing, we beseech Thee, on this school: grant that all who are engaged here as teachers may so fulfill their duties as hereafter to render the account thereof to Thee with joy: & to them who are taught here, impart, we beseech Thee, willing & obedient hearts, so that they may receive rightly the instruction afforded them & study to become faithful members of Thy Church & to do their duty in those stations of life to which Thou mayest be pleased to call them. Grant that all who assemble here may lookup with respect to their superiors, but above all with reverence to Thee, their Father in Heaven, that they may live together in unity & godly love, & as they grow in years may grow in grace & favour both with Thee & all men, so that finally with the residue of Thy Holy Church we may all be joined together again in Thy Heavenly kingdom, there to dwell with Thee, world without end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Hymn sung at the beginning of Term
(Rudyard Kipling)

 Father in Heaven, who lovest all,
O, help thy children when they call;
That they may build from age to age,
An undefiled Heritage.

Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,
With steadfastness & careful truth;
That in our time, Thy Grace may give
The truth whereby the nations live.

Teach us to rule ourselves always,
Controlled & cleanly night & day;
That we may bring if need arise,
No maimed or worthless sacrifice

Teach us to look, in all our ends
On Thee for judge & not our friends:
That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed
By fear or favour of the crowd.

Teach us the strength that cannot seek,
By deed or thought to hurt the weak:
That under Thee we may possess
Man’s strength to comfort man’s distress.

Teach us delight in simple things,
And mirth that has no bitter springs:
Forgiveness free of evil done,
And love to all men ‘neath the sun!

Amen.

    Hymn Sung at the end of term
(C.A. Alington)

  Lord, Thou hast brought us to our journey’s end;
Once more to Thee our thankful praise ascend;
Once more we stand to praise Thee for the past;
Grant prayer & praise be honest at the last.

For all the joys which Thou hast deigned to share,
For all the pains which Thou hast deigned to bear,
For all our friends in life & death the same,
We thank Thee, Lord, & praise Thy glorious name.

If from Thy paths, by chastening undismayed,
If, for Thy gifts ungrateful we have strayed,
If in Thy house our prayers were faint & few,
Forgive, O Lord, & build our hearts anew.

  If we have learnt to feel our neighbours need,
To fight for truth in thought & word & deed,
If there be lessons which the years have taught,
Then ’stablish, Lord, what Thou in us hast wrought.

So be our rest in palaces most fair,
Not built with hands, whose stones Thy praise declare:
Where war is not, & all Thy sons are free,
Where Thou art known, & all is known in Thee. 

Hymn sung at the Feast of the Transfiguration
(J. Armitage Robinson)

‘Tis good, Lord to be here;
Thy glory fills the night
Thy face & garments, like the sun,
Shine with unborrowed light.

‘Tis good, Lord to be here,
 Thy beauty to behold,
Where Moses & Elijah stand,
Thy messengers of old.

  Fulfiller of the past!
Promise of things to be!
We hail Thy body glorifies,
And our redemption see.

  Before we taste of death,
We see thy kingdom come;
We fain would hold the vision bright
And make this hill our home.

  ‘Tis good, Lord to be here!
Yet we may not remain;
But since, Thou bidst us leave the mount
  Come, with us to the plain.

Amen.

 O! Holy God
(A hymn by Canon R.H.B. Yin)

O! Holy God I know Thee;
I want to know Thee more;
I want to know Thee better
Than I have done before.

So for the sake of Jesus,
Who lived and died for me,
Take Thou my life & make it
What Thou woulds't have it be.

O! Holy God I love Thee;
I want to love Thee more;
I want to love Thee better
Than I have done before.

O! Holy God I serve Thee;
I want to serve Thee more;
I want to serve Thee better
Than I have done before.