Father, Again in Jesus’ Name We Meet

Father, again in Jesus’ Name we meet,
And bow in penitence beneath Your feet;
Again to You our feeble voices raise,
To sue for mercy, and to sing Your praise.

O we would bless You for Your ceaseless care,
And all Your works from day to day declare;
Is not our life with hourly mercies crowned?
Does not Your arm encircle us around?

Alas, unworthy of Your boundless love,
Too oft with careless feet from You we rove;
But now, encouraged by Your voice, we come,
Returning sinners to a Father’s home.

O by that Name in Whom all fulness dwells,
O by that love which ev’ry love excels,
O by that blood so freely shed for sin,
Open blest mercy’s gate and take us in.

Author: Mary Bowley Peters

Year: 1847

The hymn is also known as "Father, Again in Jesus' Name We Meet" or simply "Father, Again." It first appeared in Mary Peters' 1847 collection "Hymns Intended to Help the Communion of Saints." Some later hymnals have attributed it to "M. Bowley" (her maiden name) or used the pseudonym "M. P."; no other major attributions exist.