The Day Thou Gavest

The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended,

the darkness falls at thy behest;

to thee our morning hymns ascended,

 thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank thee that thy Church unsleeping,

 while earth rolls onward into light,

through all the world her watch is keeping,

 and rests not now by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island

the dawn leads on another day,

the voice of prayer is never silent,

 nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun that bids us rest is waking

our brethren ’neath the western sky,

and hour by hour fresh lips are making

 thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord; thy throne shall never,

like earth’s proud empires, pass away;

thy kingdom stands, and grows for ever,

till all thy creatures own thy sway.

Pslam 23: The Lord is my shepherd

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;

he makes me down to lie

in pastures green; he leadeth me

 the quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again,

 and me to walk doth make

within the paths of righteousness,

 e’en for his own name’s sake.

The choir sings Yea, though I walk through death’s dark vale,

 yet will I fear none ill;

for thou art with me, and thy rod

and staff me comfort still.

All sing My table thou hast furnishèd

 in presence of my foes;

my head thou dost with oil anoint,

 and my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life

shall surely follow me;

and in God’s house for evermore

 my dwelling place shall be.

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heaven, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

 all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesu, thou art all compassion,

 pure unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation,

 enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,

 let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never,

 never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

 serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,

 glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,

 pure and spotless let us be;

let us see thy great salvation,

 perfectly restored in thee,

changed from glory into glory

 till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

 lost in wonder, love, and praise!