Above:  Dusk

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

Text by John Cennick (1718-1755)

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

Ere I sleep, for every favor

Which my God hath bestowed,

I will bless my Saviour;

O my Lord, what shall I render

Unto Thee?  Thou shalt be

This night my Defender.

+++++

Thou, my Rock, my Strength, and Tower,

While I sleep, deign to keep,

Watch from hour to hour;

Visit me with Thy salvation;

Be Thou near, that Thy care

Guard my habitation.

+++++

Leave me not, but ever love me;

Let Thy peace by my bliss,

Till Thou hence remove me;

Then, aroused from peaceful slumber,

Let me rise with the wise,

Counted in their number.

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

Above:  Dark Night

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

Text by John Cennick (1718-1755)

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

No farther go to-night, but stay,

Dear Savior, till the break of day;

Abide, my Lord, with me:

And in the morning when I wake,

Me under Thy protection take;

Thus day and night I spend with Thee.

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

Above:  Dawn, Crater Lake National Park

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923), Moravian Church in America

Text (1740, 1742) by John Cennick (1718-1755)

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

Rise, my soul, adore thy Maker;

Angels praise; join thy lays,

Within them be partaker:

Father, Lord of every spirit,

In Thy might, lead me right,

Through my Saviour’s merit.

+++++

O my God, be ever near me,

For Thy rest, for Thy feast,

More and more prepare me.

Still assure me of my calling,

Kept by Thee, let me be

Saved from final falling.

+++++

Thou this night wast my Protector;

With me stay, all the day,

Ever my Director.

Holy, holy, holy Giver

Of all good, life and food,

Reign adored for ever.

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

Above:  Star Night

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)

English Translation (1769), recast in 1789 by John Swertner (1746-1813)

Hymn Source = Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum) (1923)

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

Jesus, hear our prayer,

For Thy children care;

While we sleep, protect and bless us,

With Thy pardon now refresh us:

Leave Thy peace divine

With us, we are Thine.

Above:  Sunset Rays in Sky

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text (1711) by Caspar Neumann (1648-1715)

English Translation (1938) for The Lutheran Hymnal (1941)

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

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

Gracious God, again is ended

Of my life another day.

Show me where I have offended,

Where I faltered on the way;

Let me by Thy grace divine

View this sinful life of mine.

Calmly, as the day now closes,

In Thy love my soul reposes.

+++++

Faithful Father, thus before Thee

Now I come with fervent plea;

Though unworthy, I implore Thee,

Be Thou merciful to me;

Let Thy face upon me shine

As the fleeting hours decline.

Help me do Thy will and pleasure

Day by day in fuller measure.

+++++

Loving Savior, I will solely

Look to Thee for peaceful sleep;

Sanctify my spirit wholly,

Angels send their watch to keep.

Bid all threatening foes be gone,

Guard my home and all mine own;

Drive away all gloom and sorrow,

Bless me with a glad tomorrow.

+++++

Holy Ghost, Thine eyes forever

Watch though darkness hide the view;

Waking always, failing never,

They their loving task pursue.

Gentle Shepherd, as Thy sheep

Now repose in trustful sleep,

So within Thine arms enfold me.

+++++

Gracious God, let me awaken

To another blessed day

That I may, with faith unshaken,

Serve Thee as my Strength and Stay.

Should instead death’s summons come,

Take me to Thy heavenly home.

To Thy care I thus commend me;

Lord, in life and death attend me.

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

Above:  Episcopal Church of the Holy Family, Jasper, Georgia, June 21, 2015

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Original German Text (1700) by Caspar Neumann (1648-1715)

English Translation (1880) by Conrad Hermann Louis Schuette (1843-1926)

Hymn Source = Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal (1908), Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States (1818-1930)

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

God of ages, great and mighty!

Who upholdest heaven and earth;

By whose truth and tender mercy

I have been led on from birth,

Night and sleep now pass away–

Welcome be Thy holy day.

+++++

For this day so fair and holy,

Be Thou by my spirit blest,

Through Thy word still nearer heaven

Guide my spirit toward its rest:

Than the work of praise and prayer

Let me know no higher care.

+++++

O the beauty of Thy service!

O the sweetness of Thy Word!

Sweeter far than honey gathered

From the flower by bee or bird:

Blessed all, who day and night

Make Thy word their chief delight.

+++++

O my God, speak Thou Amen!

For we are Thy chosen own;

Be Thy praise by all exalted,

And Thy glorious name made known,

Till for aye we may, through grace,

See and serve Thee face to face.

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

Above:  Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Cartersville, Georgia, May 10, 2015

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Anonymous German Text (1734)

English Translation (1937) by William Gustave Polack (1890-1950)

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

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

1.  With the Lord begin thy task,

Jesus will direct it;

For His aid and counsel ask,

Jesus will perfect it.

Ev’ry morn with Jesus rise,

And when day is ended,

In His name then close thine eyes;

Be to Him commended.

2.  Let each day begin with prayer,

Praise, and adoration;

On the Lord cast ev’ry care,

He is thy Salvation.

Morning, evening, and at night

Jesus will be near thee,

Save from the Tempter’s might,

With His presence cheer thee.

3.  With thy Savior at thy side,

Foes need not alarm thee;

In His promises confide,

And no ill can harm thee.

All thy trust do thou repose

In the mighty Master,

Who in wisdom truly knows

How to stem disaster.

4.  If thy task be thus begun

With the Savior’s blessing,

Safely then thy course will run,

Naught thy soul distressing.

Good will follow everywhere

While thou here must wander;

Thou at last the joy wilt share

In the mansions yonder.

5.  Thus, Lord Jesus, every task

Be to Thee commended;

May Thy will be done, I ask,

Until life is ended.

Jesus, in Thy name begun

Be the day’s endeavor;

Grant that it may well be done

To Thy praise forever.

Above:  Lake Dusk

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal: A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), Norwegian-American Lutheran

Original Text by Hans J. Himmerich (1681-1735)

Norwegian Translation by Wilhelm Andreas Wexels (1797-1866)

English Translation (1929) by Vigleik E. Boe (1872-1953)

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

1.  The day is fast declining

And night is drawing near;

Thy mercy, Lord, is shining,

Dispelling all our fear.

Our sins forgive, O Father,

Protect us great and small,

Thy holy angels gather

To watch around us all.

2.  When darkness earth has blinded

And day has passed from sight,

We are, O Lord, reminded

Of death’s approaching night.

Illumine Thou our passage,

O Jesus, dearest Friend,

Send us Thy gladsome message,

Grant us a blessed end.

Above:  The Hymn

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary (1927), Presbyterian

Original Latin Words by Father Charles Coffin (1676-1749)

English Translation by John Chandler (1806-1876)

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

1. As now the sun’s declining rays

At eventide descend,

Even so our years are sinking down

To their appointed end.

2. Lord, on the Cross Thine arms were stretched

To draw the nations nigh;

O grant us then that Cross to love,

And in those arms to die.

3. To God the Father, God the Son,

And God the Holy Ghost,

All glory be from saints on earth,

And from the angel host.

Above:  St. Mary and Martha of Bethany Episcopal Church, Buford, Georgia

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5809999763099999377/5810005412084850418?banner=pwa&pid=5810005412084850418&oid=114749828757741527421)

Original Danish Words by Thomas Hansen Kingo (1634-1703)

English Translation by Jens Christian Aaberg (1877-1970)

Hymn Source = Hymnal for Church and Home, Third Edition (1938), of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, denominations with Danish heritage

http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/assembled-in-this-thy-house-danish-american-lutherans-1870-1962/

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

1.  Softly now the day is ending,

Night o’er hill and vale descending;

I will kneel before Thee, Lord.

Unto Thee my thanks I render

That Thou didst, in mercy tender,

Life and peace to me accord.

2.  May Thy Church Thy peace inherit;

Guide our leaders by Thy Spirit;

Give our country strength and peace.

To the sinner, sad and dreary,

To each Christian, faint and weary,

Give Thou solace and surcease.

3.  Keep me, Jesus, while I slumber,

Free from perils without number;

Shield me, Master, in Thy might,

That, released from sin and sorrow,

I may sing this song tomorrow:

Jesus was my sun this night.