Day is Dying

1) Day is dying in the west;
Heav'n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets the evening lamps alight
Through all the sky.

Refrain: Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts!
Heav'n and earth are full of Thee!
Heav'n and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord most high!

2) Lord of life, beneath the dome
Of the universe, Thy home,
Gather us who seek They face
To the fold of Thy embrace,
For Thou art nigh.

Refrain

3) While the deepening shadows fall,
Heart of love enfolding all,
Through the glory and the grace
Of the stars that veil Thy face,
Our hearts ascend.

Refrain

4) When forever from out sight
Pass the stars, the day, the night,
Lord of angels, on our eyes
Let eternal morning rise
And shadows end.

Refrain

This is a hymn by Mary A. Lathbury. She wrote the first two verses in 1877, took a two year break, and finished the hymn in 1879.Here is a congregation singing it at their worship service.  I don't have any history to go along with this hymn.  I don't ever remember singing it before.  But as I read through the lyrics and hum along with a the congregation, I appreciate the call to worship.  This hymn has a very specific roll; it is a gathering hymn for a night service.

In truth, it makes me ponder.  When do I give the Sabbath a full day's rest?  Usually after the evening service or when the sun sets, I begin thinking about the week and what needs to be accomplished.  It is almost as if, "I have the church thing done, what's next?"  It's good to be reminded that we should take the grace of rest and worship into the night.  Fortunately for us, the Lord never needs reminding to love us.