Above:  The Hymn

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1933), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Words (1865) by Francis Turner Palgrave (1824-1827), Anglican poet and art critic

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1.  O Light of life, O Saviour dear,

Before we sleep, bow down Thine ear;

Through dark and day, o’er land and sea,

We have no other hope but Thee.

2.  Oft from Thy royal road we part,

Lost in the mazes of the heart:

Our lamps put out, our course forgot,

We seek for God, and find Him not.

3.  What sudden sunbeams cheer our sight!

What dawning risen upon the night!

Thou giv’st Thyself to us, and we

Find guide and path and all in Thee.

4.  Through day and darkness, Saviour dear,

Abide with us, more nearly near;

Till on Thy face we lift our eyes,

The Sun of God’s own Paradise.

Above:  Christ Pantocrator

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982, of The Episcopal Church

Words by Jan Struther (1901-1953)

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1.  Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,

whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,

be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,

your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

2.  Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,

whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,

be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,

your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

3.  Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,

be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

4.  Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,

whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,

be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,

your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Above:  Praying Hands, by Albrecht Durer

Prayer Source = Book of Common Worship (1993), of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), quoting With All God’s People (World Council of Churches, 1989), channeling the Church of South India

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O God our Creator,

by whose mercy and might

the world turns safely into darkness

and returns again to light;

We give into your hands our unfinished tasks,

our unsolved problems,

and our unfulfilled hopes,

knowing that only those things which you bless will prosper.

To your great love and protection

we commit each other

and all for whom we have prayed,

knowing that you alone are our sure defender,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.