2 Each field is then a hallowed spot,
An altar is in each man's cot,

A church in every grove that spreads
Its living roof above our heads.

3 Look up to heaven, the industrious sun
Already half his race hath run:
He cannot halt or go astray,
But our immortal spirits may.

4 Lord, since his rising in the east,
If we have faltered or transgressed,
Guide, from thy love's abundant source,
What yet remains of this day's course;

5 Help with thy grace, through life's short day, Our upward and our downward way; And glorify for us the west,

When we shall sink to final rest.

Amen.

William Wordsworth, 1834

10

B

EHOLD us, Lord, a little space
From daily tasks set free,
And met within thy holy place
To rest awhile with thee.

2 Around us rolls the ceaseless tide
Of business, toil, and care;
And scarcely can we turn aside
For one brief hour of prayer.

3 Yet these are not the only walls
Wherein thou mayst be sought;
On homeliest work thy blessing falls,
In truth and patience wrought.

C.M.

4 Thine is the loom, the forge, the mart,
The wealth of land and sea,
The worlds of science and of art,
Revealed and ruled by thee.

5 Then let us prove our heavenly birth,
In all we do and know;
And claim the kingdom of the earth
For thee and not thy foe.

6 Work shall be prayer, if all be wrought As thou wouldst have it done,

And prayer, by thee inspired and taught, Itself with work be one.

Amen.

John Ellerton, 1870

11

Evening

TRINITY of blessed light,

O Unity of princely might,

L.M.

The fiery sun now goes his way;
Shed thou within our hearts thy ray.

2 To thee our morning song of praise,
To thee our evening prayer we raise;
O grant us with thy saints on high
To praise thee through eternity.

3 All laud to God the Father be; All praise, eternal Son, to thee; All glory, as is ever meet,

To God the holy Paraclete. Amen.

Latin; St. Ambrose, 340–397; Tr. John Mason Neale, 1862

12

O'

10.6.10.6

BRIGHTNESS of the immortal Father's face,

Most holy, heavenly, blest,

Lord Jesus Christ, in whom his truth and

grace

Are visibly expressed:

2 The sun is sinking now, and one by one The lamps of evening shine;

We hymn the eternal Father, and the Son, And Holy Ghost divine.

3 Worthy art thou at all times to receive Our hallowed praises, Lord.

O Son of God, be thou, in whom we live, Through all the world adored. Amen.

The Candlelight Hymn," Greek, before 370; Tr. Edward W. Eddis, 1864

13

Six 10's

HE day is gently sinking to a close,

THE
Fainter and yet more faint the sun-

light glows.

O Brightness of thy Father's glory, thou Eternal Light of Light, be with us now. Where thou art present darkness cannot be; Midnight is glorious noon, O Lord, with thee.

2 Our changeful lives are ebbing to an end; Onward to darkness and to death we tend. O Conqueror of the grave, be thou our guide,

Be thou our light in death's dark eventide;

Then in our mortal hour will be no gloom, No sting in death, no terror in the tomb.

3 Thou, who in darkness walking didst

appear

Upon the waves, and thy disciples cheer, Come, Lord, in lonesome days, when storms assail,

And earthly hopes and human succours fail. When all is dark may we behold thee nigh, And hear thy voice: "Fear not, for it is I."

4 The weary world is mouldering to decay,
Its glories wane, its pageants fade away;
In that last sunset when the stars shall fall,
May we arise awakened by thy call,
With thee, O Lord, for ever to abide
In that blest day which has no eventide.

Amen.

Christopher Wordsworth, 1863

14

TH

8.8.8.4

HE radiant morn hath passed away, And spent too soon her golden store; The shadows of departing day

Creep on once more.

2 Our life is but an autumn sun,

Its glorious noon, how quickly past; Lead us, O Christ, our lifework done, Safe home at last.

3 O by thy soul-inspiring grace,

Uplift our hearts to realms on high; Help us to look to that bright place Beyond the sky,

4 Where light, and life, and joy, and peace
In undivided empire reign,
And thronging angels never cease
Their deathless strain;

5 Where saints are clothed in spotless white And evening shadows never fall,

Where thou, eternal Light of Light,
Art Lord of all.

15

Amen.

Godfrey Thring, 1864

8.7.8.7.7.7

HROUGH the day thy love has spared

THE

us;

Hear us ere the hour of rest:

Through the silent watches guard us,
Let no foe our peace molest;
Jesus, thou our guardian be;
Sweet it is to trust in thee.

2 Pilgrims here on earth, and strangers,
Dwelling in the midst of foes;
Us and ours preserve from dangers;
In thine arms may we repose;

And, when life's short day is past,
Rest with thee in heaven at last.

Amen.

Thomas Kelly, 1806

16

HR

7.7.7.5

OLY Father, cheer our way
With thy love's perpetual ray;

Grant us every closing day

Light at evening time.

2 Holy Saviour, calm our fears

When earth's brightness disappears;
Grant us in our latter years

Light at evening time.