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.