Lord Behold Us With Thy Blessing : Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing

Lord, behold us with Thy blessing Once again assembled here; Onward be our footsteps pressing In Thy love, and faith, and fear; |:Still protect us:| |:By Thy presence ever near.:|

For Thy mercy we adore Thee, For this rest upon our way; Lord, again we bow before Thee, Speed our labors day by day; |:Mind and spirit:| |:With Thy choicest gifts array.:|

Keep the spell of home affection Still alive in every heart; May its power, with mild direction, Draw our love from self apart, |:Till Thy children:| |:Feel that Thou their Father art.:|

Break temptation’s fatal power, Shielding all with guardian care, Safe in every careless hour, Safe from sloth and sensual snare; |:Thou, our Savior,:| |:Still our failing strength repair.:|

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Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing, Thanks for mercies past receive; Pardon all, their faults confessing; Time that’s lost may all retrieve; |:May Thy children:| Ne’er again Thy Spirit grieve.

Bless Thou all our days of leisure; Help us selfish lures to flee; Sanctify our every pleasure; Pure and blameless may it be; |:May our gladness:| Draw us evermore to Thee.

By Thy kindly influence cherish All the good we here have gained; May all taint of evil perish By Thy mightier power restrained; |:Seek we ever:| Knowledge pure and love unfeigned.

Let Thy father-hand be shielding All who here shall meet no more; May their seed-time past be yielding Year by year a richer store; |:Those returning,:| Make more faithful than before.