Night of my life draws near; Lord, when the light departs, Be all to me that Thou hast been To other trusting hearts, And in the calm that night bestows, Let me in peace with Thee repose.
The night gives place to morn, The gloom shall pass away, And an eternal day be born, Whose sun shall shine for aye; Lord, wake me when the morn is come, And let me find with Thee my home.
All-embracing as the Greek Service Books are, curiously enough, strictly speaking, they contain no Thanksgiving services. It has been left for the Russian Church to make them for the Greeks to imitate.
The models of the Ectene and Litanies are found in the Euchologion, at vespers, but adaptations of their petitions to every eventuality in human life, are the work of Russians, whose names, however, have not been preserved. Here is an example from the Thanksgiving service for the New Year.
Lord, let us feel that Thou art near, And while we pray, in mercy hear; Crown with Thy love the opening year;-- Have mercy, Lord.
Of Thy benignity, we pray, Thy gracious Spirit grant alway, Our strife and discord to allay;-- Have mercy, Lord.
May peace our inmost soul possess, And in our lives our converse bless, With unaffected kindliness;-- Have mercy, Lord.
Our sinful past, we here repent, With tears our wayward course lament, Now, let Thy pardoning grace be sent;-- Have mercy, Lord.
As seasons come, Good Lord ordain That we the fruits of earth obtain, Send us the sunshine and the rain;-- Have mercy, Lord.
With strength Thy Holy Church endue, The anger of her foes subdue, The offerings of Thy grace renew;-- Have mercy, Lord.
Come, praise with gladness the Lord of all creation, Heaven tells His glory, earth His bounty shews; Lowly He sought us, and won for us salvation, Grace fills our lives with goodness He bestows. _Refrain._ Bountiful Giver, Thine be the praise, Blessing, and honour, and glory, always.
Spring time and harvest, and cloud and summer gladness, Come to our earth because His promise lives; Morn smiles with beauty, and evening soothes our sadness;-- Such are the treasures that His bounty gives. _Refrain._
Spring time is now, and summer with its beauty; Brightness and sadness here alternate come; Lord, may the flowers, and fruits of love and duty, Blossom and ripen for Thy harvest home. _Refrain._