Above:  The Logo of the Evangelical Synod of North America

Image Source = Yearbook and Almanac of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1939 (1938)

Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931) was a minister in the Evangelical Synod of North America.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As Fades the Daylight Splendor

In Thy Service, Lord of Mercy

Lord, I Would Praise Thee

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Sunset

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1916) by Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931)

Hymn Source = The Evangelical Hymnal (1917), Evangelical Synod of North America

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As fades the daylight splendor,

We crave Thy mercies tender,

Thou Lord of Life and Light,

Thy love for us abounding,

Thy strong arms, us surrounding,

Defend and shield us through the night.

+++++

Thy grace is all prevailing,

Thy mercy never failing,

E’en though our need is great.

When trials come assaulting,

O give us grace unfalt’ring,

That we trustful Thy help await.

+++++

Sometimes the way seems dreary,

And weakness makes us weary:

Do Thou then make us strong;

That, pain and grief controlling,

We look for Thy consoling;

For Thou wilt never tarry long.

+++++

And when at last the evening

Of death shall come, revealing

The passing of this clay,

Wilt Thou then hear our pleading,

And, tho’ death’s night us leading,

Bring us to life’s eternal day.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Easter Cross, by Jakob Häne

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1916) by Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931)

Hymn Source = The Evangelical Hymnal (1917), Evangelical Synod of North America

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lord, I would praise Thee for Thy great salvation;

My soul is filled with happy exultation,

Its chief enjoyment, to proclaim the story

Of Thy great glory.

+++++

Lord, I would serve Thee in complete surrender,

And to Thy great cause my best efforts tender;

Give me a spirit, Thy control possessing,

Serving and blessing.

+++++

Lord, I would love Thee, Thou art love deserving,

For Thou dost keep me with a grace preserving;

Fill Thou my cold heart with devotion burning

And for Thee yearning.

+++++

Lord, I would trust Thee in my dying hour;

Have Thee enfold me by Thy love and power;

I shall not fear then to go forward bravely,

For Thou wilt save me.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Celtic Cross

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1916) by Julius Ewald Kockritz (1876-1931)

Hymn Source = The Evangelical Hymnal (1917), Evangelical Synod of North America

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In Thy service, Lord of mercy,

We would find our chief delight;

Show us then some place to labor

In Thy kingdom, Lord of Light.

In hearts that are hopeless sin’s torrents are raging,

The forces of darkness their war still are waging;

The world lies in sorrow, a lost human race,

Which naught can restore but the pow’r of Thy grace.

+++++

‘Tis not tho’ some special merit

That salvation we receive,

But because our sad condition

Caused Thee for mankind to grieve;

Constrained Thee Thy glory of heavenly splendor

For our redemption to freely surrender;

To serve the whole world in its terrible plight;

To drive out the darkness and give it Thy light.

+++++

Lord, by all Thy loving efforts

Thou didst an example give

To be followed by Thy servants,

Showing how they are to live:

Then strengthen our purpose, that we resolutely

Perform Thy good will and fulfil ev’ry duty;

And serving Thee daily, whatever the task,

We find Thy approval, ’tis all that we ask.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Rudolph A. John

Source = Yearbook and Almanac of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1939 (1938), 42

Rudolph A. John (1859-1938) was a minister in the Evangelical Synod of North America then in the Evangelical and Reformed Church.  He wrote and translated hymns.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I Will Ever Sing Thy Praises, Mighty God and Gracious King

Take Thou My Hand and Lead Me

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  Icon of a Right Hand

Image in the Public Domain

German Text (1867) by Julie von Hausmann (1826-1901)

English Translation (1912) by Rudolph A. John (1859-1938)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1941), Evangelical and Reformed Church

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Take Thou my hand and lead me

Unto the end;

In life and death I need Thee,

O blessed Friend;

I cannot live without Thee

For one brief day;

Lord, be Thou ever near me,

And lead the way.

+++++

Thou mighty God of ages,

O be Thou near;

When angry tempest rages

I need not fear;

Close by Thy side abiding

I fear no foe,

While Thy strong hand is guiding

Life hath no foe.

+++++

When evening’s shadows lengthen,

The night is come,

My faint heart, Father, strengthen

And bring me home.

Take Thou my hand and lead me

Unto the end,

In life and death I need Thee,

O blessed Friend!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  The Luther Rose

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Ludwig Andreas Gotter (1661-1735) was a German Lutheran layman and hymn writer.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friend of the Weary, O Refresh Us

I Will Ever Sing Thy Praises, Mighty God and Gracious King

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  The New Jerusalem, from a fresco by Giusto de’ Monabuio, in the baptistry, Padua, Italy

Image in the Public Domain

German Text (1697) by Ludwig Andreas Gotter (1661-1735)

English Translation (1912) by Rudolph A. John (1859-1938)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1941), of the Evangelical and Reformed Church

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I will ever sing Thy praises,

Mighty God and gracious King;

Glad my heart its tribute raises,

And to Thee my psalms I sing;

Thou art King of all creation,

Every land and every nation;

“Thousand, thousand thanks to Thee,

Mighty God,” my song shall be!

+++++

All the people shall proclaim Thee,

Sing Thy praise from shore to shore;

Every human heart shall name Thee,

God and King forevermore;

On Thy throne in heaven vaulted,

In Thy majesty exalted,

“Thousand, thousand thanks to Thee,

Mighty God,” my song shall be!

+++++

When at last my feet have found Thee,

When at last I am Thine own;

When the ransomed hosts surround Thee,

On Thy great eternal throne;

When in yonder land of glory

Angels tell redemption’s story,

“Thousand, thousand thanks to Thee,

Mighty God,” my song shall be!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  The Flag of England

Image in the Public Domain

Richard Birch Hoyle (1875-1939) was an English Baptist minister.  He translated hymns from twelve languages into English.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thine Be the Glory

What Joy to Think of That Vast Host

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Above:  The Flag of England

Image in the Public Domain

Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878) was an Anglican hymn translator and music educator.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Silent Night

We Plow the Fields, and Scatter

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++