Lord Behold Us With Thy Blessing

by H. J. Buckoll

Lord, behold us with Thy blessing
Once again assembled here;
Onward be our footsteps pressing
In Thy love, and faith, and fear;
Still protect us, still protect us
By Thy presence ever near.

For Thy mercy we adore Thee,
For this rest upon our way;
Lord, again we bow before Thee,
Speed our labors day by day;
Mind and spirit, mind and spirit
With Thy choicest gifts array.

Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing,
Thanks for mercies past receive;
Pardon all, their faults confessing;
Time that's lost may all retrieve;
May Thy children, may thy children
Ne'er again Thy Spirit grieve.

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.