EVENING PRAYER

Great Source of being,
Father all-seeing!
We bow before thee;
Our souls adore thee;
Help us obey thee;
Guide us aright;
Keep us, we pray thee,
Through the long night.

Thou kind, forgiving
God of all living,
Thy power defend us,
Thy peace attend us,
While we are closing
This day in prayer,
Ever reposing
Under thy care.

-Eliza Lee Follen (1787 – 1860)

This prayer poem reminds me of our Great Vespers or Compline services that are held in the evening, when we are already subdued a bit from the work of the day, spiritual and physical. At this time of year darkness comes early, which helps us further to quiet down. We submit to the prayers and hymns that invoke the Holy Spirit, Who lays a balm on our hearts and on the day’s end.