Bless, O Lord, The Opening Year

 

Bless, O Lord, the opening year,

To each soul assembled here:

Clothe Thy Word with power divine,

Make us willing to be Thine.

"The Shepherd's Care"
Yongsung Kim
Korean artist

Shepherd of Thy blood-bought sheep!

Teach the stony heart to weep;

Let the blind have eyes to see,

See themselves, and look on Thee!

Let the minds of all our youth

Feel the force of sacred truth;

While the Gospel call they hear,

May they learn to love and fear.

Show them what their ways have been,

Show the desert of their sin;

Then Thy dying love reveal,

This shall melt a heart of steel.

Where Thou hast Thy work begun,

Give new strength the race to run;

Scatter darkness, doubts, and fears,

Wipe away the mourners' tears.

Bless us all both old and young;

Call forth praise from every tongue:

Let the whole assembly prove

All Thy power, and all Thy love.

"Bless, O Lord, The Opening Year"
(1789)
John Newton
(1725-1807)
English Anglican Clergyman
and abolitionist

Music arrangement by
Felix Mendelssohn
(1807-1847)
German composer