Lord God, from whom all life,
With all true gladness springs,
Whose love and care shine everywhere
Among Earth’s common things;
Be present while we lift
Our song to thee, and pay
Heart-gratitude for all things good
About our path today.
We thank thee for thy grace
In friend and brother found;
For human love that points above
To where all love is crowned;
Oh, may such friendship here
To us thy sons be given,
As shall endure, deep, fair, and pure
Till all be one in heaven.
But most we bless thee, Lord,
That here thy spirit’s breath
Blows clear and strong to baffle wrong
And win our lives from death.
Oh, may each heart accept
The entrance of thy power,
And take thee hence for sure defence
And help in evil hour.
So when the lives, today
Within our circle brought,
Are sundered wide along the tide
Of human work and thought;
One song shall yet be ours:
One life, one family,
One pathway still, by vale or hill,
Shall lead us home to thee.