A Prayer

At the beginning of the Prayer Prods for June 24, I wrote: “Tomorrow in 1962 we outlawed prayers in public schools and June 26, 2015, we mandated all states perform and recognize homosexual marriages.  Also on June 26, in 1876 the song, “God of Our Fathers” was published.  A couple of lines:  Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide, and Stay, Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way…Thy true religion in our hearts increase.”

Looking at the words to “God of Our Fathers”, I was struck how timely some of the phrases are for us today.  Yesterday, we opened the worship service at SSB singing the second and fourth verses.  I print them here as a reminder and as a prod.  May some of these phrases be our cries to God this week.

“God of Our Fathers” (Daniel C. Roberts, The Hymnal, Word Music, 1986)

Thy love divine, hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide, and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never-ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine! 

Have a special July 4 remembering our rich heritage, celebrating our many blessings, and anticipating good days ahead for both us and future generations.

May our hearts and minds be lifted toward God – Who alone is our help and hope.  May we have special times of worship this week.