As we say goodbye to 2009

 

"Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing,

Thanks for mercies past received;

Pardon all, our faults confessing;

Time that’s lost may all retrieve;

May Thy children, 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,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, 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, those returning

Make more faithful than before."