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:  Evening Sky

Image in the Public Domain

Original Syraic Text by St. Ephrem of Edessa (306/307-373)

English Translation by Francis Crawford Burkitt (1864-1935)

Hymn Source = The English Hymnal (1906), The Church of England

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

Receive, O Lord, in heaven above,

Our prayers and supplications pure;

Give us a heart all full of love

And steady courage to endure.

++++++

Thy holy name our mouths confess,

Our tongues are harps to praise thy grace;

Forgive our sins and wickedness,

Who in this vigil seek thy face.

++++++

Let not our song become a sigh,

A wail of anguish and despair;

In loving-kindness, Lord most high,

Receive to-night our evening prayer.

++++++

O raise us in that day, that we

May sing, where all thy Saints adore,

Praise to thy Father, and to thee,

And to thy Spirit, evermore.

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

Above:  Evening Sky

Image in the Public Domain

Prayer Source = A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948), the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States

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

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of our souls.

Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray for the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God’s holy churches; and for the union of all.

Lord have mercy.

Let us pray for this holy temple and for those who with faith, devoutness, and in the fear of God have entered herein.

Lord, have mercy.

All:  Lord, I have cried unto thee; hear me.  Hear me, O Lord; I have cried unto thee, hear me:  receive the voice of my prayer when I call upon thee.  Hear me, O Lord.  Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.

–Page 314

Above:  The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, April 10, 2016 

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Prayer Source = A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948), the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches of the United States

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

From “Fourth Order of Morning Worship”:

Since it is of thy mercy, O gracious Father, that another day is added to our lives;

we here dedicate both our souls to thee and thy service,

in a sober, righteous, and godly life;

in which resolution, do thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us;

that, as we grow in age, we may grow in grace,

and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

–Page 12

Above:  St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Milledgeville, Georgia, April 3, 2016

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Prayer Source = A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948), the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States

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

From “Fourth Order of Morning Worship”:

Grant, O Lord, that our ears, which have heard the voice of thy songs,

may be closed to the voice of all unworthy clamor and dispute;

that our eyes, which have looked upon the symbols of thy love,

may ever look to thee for light and guidance;

that our tongues, which have sung thy praise,

may ever speak the truth in love;

that our feet, which have walked in thy courts,

may walk ever in the way of righteousness and in the paths that lead unto peace;

and grant that our hearts, which have waited before thee,

may be ever open to thy coming;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

–Page 12

Above:  Lake Rocks in Morning Mist

Image in the Public Domain

Prayer Source = A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948), General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States

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

From “Third Order of Morning Worship”:

PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS

Minister and Congregation

Almighty and everlasting God, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain,

much less the temples which our minds have builded,

but who art ever nigh unto the humble and the contrite;

grant thy Holy Spirit, we beseech thee, to us who are here assembled;

that cleansed and illumined by thy grace, we may worthily show forth thy praise,

meekly learn thy word, render due thanks for thy mercies,

and obtain a gracious answer to our prayers;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far is the east from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  Amen.

–Pages 6 and 7

Above:  Evening Sun Reflection

Image in the Public Domain

Prayer Source = A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948), General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States

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

From “An Order of Evening Worship”:

O thou whose chosen dwelling is the heart that longs for thy presence and humbly seeks thy face;

we come to thee as the day declines and the shadows of evening fall.

Deepen within us the sense of shame and sorrow for the wrongs we have done,

for the good we have left undone.

Strengthen every desire to amend our lives according to thy holy will.

Restore us unto the joys of thy salvation.

Bind up that which is broken.

Give light to our minds, strength to our wills, and rest to our souls;

according to thy loving-kindness in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

–Page 22

Above:  Pelicans Flying and Evening Sun

Image in the Public Domain

Prayer Source = A Book of Worship for Free Churches (1948), General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States

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

From “A Vesper Service”:

O thou whose chosen dwelling is the heart that longs for thy presence and humbly seeks thy love, we come to thee as the day declines and the evening shadows fall.

We acknowledge and confess that we have sinned in thought and word and deed; we have not loved thee with all our heart and soul, with all our mind and strength; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves.  Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done, or for the good we have left undone.

But thou, O Lord, art full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy; there is forgiveness with thee.  Restore us to the joy of thy salvation; bind up that which is broken; give light to our minds, strength to our wills, and rest to our souls.  Speak to each of us the word that we need, and let thy word abide with us till it has wrought in us thy holy will.

–Pages 17 and 18

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:  Dawn on River

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Henry N. Hendrickson (1869-1953)

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal:  A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), U.S. Norwegian Lutherans

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

1.  Father, source of life and light,

Who has kept us through the night,

Sheltered ‘neath Thy mighty wing,

Thee our morning praise we bring.

Shine upon us from above

With the radiance of Thy love.

2.  Savior, Master, in Thy way

Guide our erring steps today;

In temptation’s trying hour

Touch us with Thy quickening pow’r.

Richest gift Thy grace can give,

Teach us, Master, how to live.

3.  Holy Spirit, ever near,

Keep our hearts from guilty fear.

Strengthen us for each our task

More than we know how to ask.

Sanctified, redeemed, and free,

Humbly let us walk with Thee.