"Across the Sky the Shades of Night" by James Hamilton, 1819-? Text From: THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942) p.90 1. Across the sky the shades of night This New Year's Eve are fleeting. We deck Thine altar, Lord, with light, In solemn worship meeting; And as the year's last hours go by, We raise to Thee our earnest cry, Once more Thy love entreating. 2. Before the cross subdued we bow, To Thee our prayers addressing, Recounting all Thy mercies now, And all our sins confessing; Beseeching Thee this coming year To keep us in Thy faith and fear And crown us with Thy blessing. 3. And while we pray, we lift our eyes To dear ones gone before us, Safe home with Thee in Paradise, Whose peace descendeth o'er us; And beg of Thee, when life is past, To reunite us all at last With those who've gone before us. 4. We gather up in this brief hour The memory of Thy mercies: Thy wondrous goodness, love, and power Our grateful song rehearses; For Thou hast been our Strength and Stay In many a dark and dreary day Of sorrow and reverses. 5. In many an hour when fear and dread, Like evil spells, have bound us And clouds were gathering overhead, Thy providence hath found us. In many a night when seas ran high, Thy gracious presence, drawing nigh, Hath made all calm around us. 6. Then, 0 great God, in years to come, Whatever may betide us, Right onward through our journey home Be Thou at hand to guide us; Nor leave us till at close of life Safe from all perils, toil, and strife, Heaven shall enfold and hide us. _______________________________________________________ Notes: Hymn #110 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_ Text: Ps. 121:1 Author: James Hamilton, 1883 Composer: Nikolaus Decius, 1539, asc. Tune: "Allein Gott in der Hoeh'" ______________________________________________________________ This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126 ______________________________________________________________