United Prayers Ascend to Thee

United pray­ers as­cend to Thee

Eternal par­ent of man­kind;

Smile on this wait­ing fa­mi­ly

Thy face they seek

and let them find.

The fa­ther of the house­hold bless

The priest

the pa­tri­arch

let him move

That all his fa­mi­ly may trace

In him Thy law

in lines of love.

Regard the mo­ther’s anx­ious tears

Her heart’s de­sire

her ear­nest pray­ers

And while her in­fant charge she rears

Crown with suc­cess her pi­ous cares.

Let the dear pledg­es of their love

Like ten­der plants around them grow

Thy pre­sent grace

and joys above

Upon their lit­tle ones be­stow.

Receive at their be­liev­ing hand

The babe whom they de­vote as Thine

Obedient to their Lord’s com­mand—

And seal with pow­er the rite di­vine.

To ev­ery mem­ber of their house

Thy grace im­part

Thy love ex­tend;

Grant ev­ery good that time al­lows

With heav­en­ly joys that nev­er end.