1 Help, Lord Jesus, let Thy blessing
Rest upon this opening year;
May we now, new strength possessing,
Walk in love and holy fear;
Dearest Savior, speed our way;
Strength bestow from day to day.
2 In our hearts one purpose keeping,'
May we live alone to Thee;
In our waking and our sleeping,
Jesus, Thou our portion be;
Going out, be Thou our guide;
In our home with us abide.
3 May we, in unfeigned repentance,
Seek forgiveness in Thy name,
Nor the law's condemning sentence
Fill our hearts with fear and shame;
Thou alone canst pardon give,
Dearest Lord, our sins forgive.
4 Lord, Thy blessing now receiving,
Grant Thou us a hallowed year;
Firmly on Thy word believing,
May our service be sincere;
That on earth we may become
Fitted for our heavenly home.
5 Jesus, Thou our footsteps guiding,
May we never stray from Thee;
Jesus, ear us still abiding,
Thou our constant guardian be:
Jesus, Thou our thoughts inspire,
Jesus be our hearts' desire.
6 Savior, when this year is closing,
Marked by mercies large and free,
May we, in Thy love reposing,
Leave the future all with Thee;
Gladly in Thy courts appear,
Gladly wait Thy summons here.
Source: The Lutheran Hymnary #210
Rist, Johann, son of Kaspar Rist, pastor at Ottensen, near Hamburg, was born at Ottensen, March 8, 1607, and from his birth was dedicated to the ministry. After passing through the Johanneum at Hamburg and the Gymnasium Illustre at Bremen, he matriculated, in his 21st year, at the University of Rinteln, and there, under Josua Stegmann (q. v.), he received an impulse to hymn-writing. On leaving Rinteln he acted as tutor to the sons of a Hamburg merchant, accompanying them to the University of Rostock, where he himself studied Hebrew, Mathematics and also Medicine.
During his residence at Rostock the terrors, of the Thirty Years War almost emptied the University, and Rist himself also lay there for weeks ill of the pestilence. After his r… Go to person page >
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