Now the Day Is Over (ELW 570)
1 Now the day is over;
night is drawing nigh;
shadows of the evening
steal across the sky.
2 Jesus, give the weary
calm and sweet repose;
with your tend’rest blessing
may our eyelids close.
3 Comfort ev’ry suff’rer
watching late in pain;
those who plan some evil,
from their sin restrain.
4 Through the long night-watches
may your angels spread
their bright wings above me,
watching round my bed.
5 When the morning wakens,
then may I arise
pure and fresh and sinless
in your holy eyes.
6 Glory to the Father,
glory to the Son,
and to you, blest Spirit,
while the ages run.
Devotion
The second verse of this hymn is my prayer for you. May you sink back into the sheltering arms of God and experience the “calm and sweet repose” it describes. Life is not easy these days. The future is clouded, but held close to the heart of God our future is secure. Joy, hope, and peace lie ahead. Each new morning beckons with new life and renewed possibilities. Forgiven and restored, we are ready to face each new day and its challenges with courage and confidence.
As God’s baptized children we don’t ever get to retire from the challenges and opportunities of the faith. We know the truth of “dust we are and to dust we shall return,” but in between the opportunities are endless—to do good to our neighbor, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to sing praises to our God, who made us out of love, and who sustains us with love and the promise to be with us until the end. Alleluia! Amen!
Prayer
Holy God of beginnings and endings hold us close and send us forth confident in your leading. We entrust our lives—all that we are and have—to your tender mercies. Thank-you for all you are and all you have been for us. Here we are. Send us forth with the glorious news of forgiveness and hope. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.