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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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