Praying Each Day in May

[MajestyJo]

In 1863, the “Football Association” was
founded, to set out clear rules for the
game and to distinguish it from rugby
football and other similar games. With
the foundation of the Football Association,
the game began to be called “association”
or “assoc”, giving the word “soccer”,
which at first was a slang word.

In May each year the Cup Final is held at
Wembley. After the First World War it
became a tradition for community singing
to take place at the Football Cup Final
at Wembley. King George V (the fifth)
suggested that a hymn be included, and
“Abide with me” was chosen. It is still sung
before the Cup Final every May.

The words were written by Henry Lyte
in the fishing village of Brixham in
Devon, where he had been the vicar
since the age of 30. His words are particularly
touching because he wrote them
whilst dying of T.B. - tuberculosis.

On the 4th September 1847 he said
goodbye to the congregation of his
church. He had been given early retirement
because of his chronic health. In
his last sermon he preached about the
time when two disciples were walking
along a road towards a village called
Emmaus. Jesus had been killed a few
days before, but now he joins them and
walks beside them. He is risen from the
dead. At last they recognise him and say
to him: “Stay with us. It is nearly evening.”

Henry Lyte took this theme and wrote
his hymn as he walked by the sea. He
heard the ebb and flow of the tide and,
for the last time there, he watched the
sun set. The following day he was to go
abroad on the advice of his doctor, who
had told him that in a drier climate he
might live a little longer.

And so he wrote “Abide with me” (meaning
“stay with me”), “it is fast becoming
evening.” As he wrote his words, Henry
Lyte also thought of his own life coming
to a swift end. No earthly helpers or comforts
could make much difference to him.

2 months later, on his way to sunny Italy,
he died in Nice, France. His last words
were “Peace, joy,” as he pointed his hand
towards the sky.

The words of his hymn we’ll make our
prayer today. We can use our imagination
and place ourselves on the seashore
as the sun is setting. We listen to the
words of his hymn as the prayer of this
sick man who knew he was at the
“evening” of his life, about to die from
tuberculosis - but at peace with himself:

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,
O 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 power?
Who like thyself
my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine,
O 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;
heaven’s morning breaks,
and earth’s vain shadows flee:
in life, in death,
O Lord, abide with me.

Parts of the first 2 verses are based on words
at the end of St Luke’s gospel, chapter 24. Two
disciples were disillusioned because Jesus had
been killed. As they walk along the road towards
Emmaus, just outside Jerusalem, Jesus himself
joins them and walks with them. At first they
don’t recognise him. “It is evening, and the day
is almost over,” they said to him. ”Come and
stay with us.”
✍ The words in the 4th verse - “Where is death’s
sting? Where, grave, thy victory?” - are a quote
from St Paul: 1 Cor 1555. This hymn is often
chosen to be sung at funerals.
✍ Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) also wrote the
words of the hymn, “Praise my soul, the king
of heaven”.
✍ Arthur Caiger had led community singing on
Armistice Day, 11/11/1918, and he also led the
community singing for the Cup Final, including
songs that were sung during the war.
✍ King George V was the grandfather of Queen
Elizabeth II.
✍ ‘Abide with me’ was the favourite hymn of the
Indian leader Ghandi, who was a Hindu. The
hymn is still played on India’s Republic Day,
as the sun goes down.