Scripture Verse

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. John 15:4

Introduction

portrait
Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Words: From Sie­ben und zwant­zigk ne­we geist­liche Ge­sen­ge, mit vier Stim­men com­po­nir­et, by Jo­hann Steu­er­lein (Er­furt, Ger­ma­ny: 1588) (Das alte Jahr ver­gan­gen ist). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, Cho­rale Book for Eng­land, 1863, num­ber 171.

Music: Herr Je­su Christ Can­tio­nale Ger­ma­ni­cum (Dres­den, Ger­ma­ny: 1628) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Johann Steuerlein (1546–1613)

Lyrics

The old year now hath passed away;
We thank Thee, O our God, today
That Thou hast kept us through the year
When dan­ger and dis­tress were near.

We pray Thee, O eter­nal Son,
Who with the Fa­ther reign’st as One,
To guard and rule Thy Chris­ten­dom
Through all the ag­es yet to come.

Take not Thy sav­ing Word away,
Our souls’ true com­fort, staff, and stay.
Abide with us and keep us free
From er­rors, fol­low­ing on­ly Thee.

Oh, help us to for­sake all sin,
A new and ho­li­er course be­gin!
Mark not what once was done amiss;
A hap­pi­er, bet­ter year be this,

Wherein as Chris­tians we may live
Or die in peace that Thou canst give,
To rise again when Thou shalt come
And en­ter Thine eter­nal home.

There shall we thank Thee and adore
With all the an­gels ev­er­more.
Lord Je­sus Christ, in­crease our faith
To praise Thy name through life and death.