Why we pray

I found this Hymn in a Hymn book that Kate left in the Prayer room. I love because it is so the heart of 24-7 Prayer. The continual prayer of the church world wide...

The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
the darkness falls at thy behest;
to thee our morning hymns ascended,
thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank thee that thy Church,
unsleepingwhile earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keepingand rests not now by day nor night.
As o'er each continent and island
the dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,nor dies the strain of praise away.
The sun that bids us rest is wakingour brethren 'neath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are makingthy wondrous doings heard on high.
So be it, Lord;
thy throne shall never,
like earth's proud empires, pass away;thy kingdom stands, and grows for ever,
till all thy creatures own thy sway.

- John Ellerton, 1870