Christian Worship (1993) ‎#69

69. Across the Sky the Shades of Night

1 Across the sky the shades of night
This New Year's Eve are fleeting.
We deck your altar, Lord, with light,
In solemn worship meeting,
And, as the year's last hours go by,
We raise to you our earnest cry,
Once more your love entreating.

2 We gather up in this brief hour
The mem'ry of your mercies.
Your wondrous goodness, love, and pow'r
Our grateful song rehearses,
For you have been our strength and stay
In many a dark and dreary day
Of sorrow and reverses.

3 Before the cross, subdued, we bow,
To you our prayers addressing,
Recounting all your mercies now
And all our sins confessing.
We ask you, Lord, this coming year
To keep us in your faith and fear
And crown us with your blessing.

4 And while we pray, we lift our eyes
To dear ones gone before us,
Safe home with you in Paradise,
Where Jesus will reign o'er us,
And ask of you, when life is past,
To reunite us all at last
With those who've gone before us.

5 Then, gracious God, in years to come,
Whatever may betide us,
Right onward through our journey home,
Oh, stay at hand to guide us,
Nor leave us till, at close of life,
Safe from all peril, toil, and strife,
Heav'n shall enfold and hide us.

Text Information

• First Line: Across the sky the shades of night
• Title: Across the Sky the Shades of Night
• Author: James Hamilton
• Meter: 87 87 887
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1993
• Topic: Name of Jesus/ Presentation; New Year

Tune Information

• Name: ALLEIN GOTT IN DER HÖH SEI EHR
• Composer (attributed to): Nikolaus Decius, c. 1485-after 1546 (alt.)
• Meter: 87 87 887
• Key: G Major