Author: J. Hamilton Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.8.7 Appears in 29 hymnals Topics: The Old Year; Old Year Lyrics: 1 Across the sky the shades of night
This Winter's eve are fleeting:
We deck Thine altar, Lord, with light,
In solemn worship meeting:
And as the year's last hours go by,
We lift to Thee our earnest cry.
Once more Thy love entreating.
2 Before the cross, subdued we bow,
To Thee our prayers addressing;
Recounting all Thy mercies now,
And all our sins confessing;
Beseeching Thee, this coming year,
To hold us in Thy faith and fear,
And crown us with Thy blessing.
3 And, while we kneel, we lift our eyes
To dear ones gone before us,
Safe housed with Thee in Paradise,
Whose peace descendeth o'er us:
And beg of Thee, when life is past,
To re-unite us all, at last,
And to our loss restore us.
4 We gather up, in this brief hour,
The memory of Thy mercies:
Thy wondrous goodness, love, and power,
Our grateful song rehearses:
For Thou hast been our strength and stay,
In many a dark and dreary day
Of sorrow and reverses.
5 In many an hour, when fear and dread,
Like evil spells hath bound us,
And clouds were gathering overhead,
Thy providence hath found us:
In many a night when waves run high,
Thy gracious presence drawing nigh
Hath made all calm around us.
6 Then, O Great God, in years to come,
Whatever fate betide us,
Right onward through our journey home
Be Thou at hand to guide us:
Nor leave us till, at close of life,
Safe from all perils, toil, and strife,
Heaven shall unfold and hide us.
Amen.
Used With Tune: ATTOLLE PAULUM
Across the sky the shades of night
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