Hymn: Abide With Me

The classic hymn: Abide with me.
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see-
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Henry Francis Lyte's immortal hymn on the Christian's hope in darkness remains one of the enduring favourites sung by millions worldwide.
God's promises through Christ, through suffering and death remain absolute, giving much needed hope and focus at this time of grieving and suffering worldwide.
The day before churches were shut down in Sydney, we very quickly recorded, with a very reduced and socially-distanced St Andrew's Cathedral Choir, several well-known hymns and psalms. We hope to share more shortly. We hope that you find them all useful in this difficult time when churches are unable to meet. Please feel free to share this or incorporate it in your online act of worship by downloading it. There is no copyright due, if you use it for your online services during this time. If we can help your scattered congregation, then we are really grateful. Please put an acknowledgement where it is from: 'Courtesy of St Andrew's Cathedral & Choir, Sydney, Australia'.