1 Across the sky the shades of night
This Winter'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 lift 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 hold us in Thy faith and fear,
And crown us with Thy blessing.

3 And, while we kneel, we lift our eyes
To dear ones gone before us,
Safe housed with Thee in Paradise,
Whose peace descendeth o'er us:
And beg of Thee, when life is past,
To re-unite us all, at last,
And to our loss restore 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 hath bound us,
And clouds were gathering overhead,
Thy providence hath found us:
In many a night when waves run high,
Thy gracious presence drawing nigh
Hath made all calm around us.

(by James Hamilton)