Proper 8 (13)
June 30, 2024
II Sam. 1:1, 17-27 or Wisdom of Sol. 1:13-15, 2:23-24
Psalm 130 or Psalm 30 (optionally with Lamentations 3:23-33)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
Our gracious, eternal God, as we approach the Independence Day of our great nation we pause to express our profound gratitude for your many blessings to us. We thank you for those who risked their lives and their fortunes to establish this republic in a democratic fashion. We thank you for the vision of a land with freedom and opportunity. We thank you for the values which motivated and drove our founding fathers and mothers to provide for the free expression of religion, yet protected us against the bias of any religion from extending too long an arm of influence over others. We thank you for the checks and balances written into our constitution to protect us all from tyranny by a few. We thank you for the vision and hope of democracy. And we thank you for the continuing vision to work for a more perfect union.
Give us the courage in our time to embrace their values and to find ways to make our nation more temperate and more just. Help us to follow the vision of St. Paul. Help us to excel not only in the virtues of character but to excel in seriously developing generous spirits to aid the needy peoples of the earth. Help us to work for that more excellent way of love.
As we go about the business of being citizens in this great land protect us from succumbing to the shallowness of cheap slogans and simplistic solutions to difficult problems. Protect us from divisiveness and disrespect for those who differ from us. Protect us from cynicism about the future and denying the power of hope because we mistakenly long for a simpler world and think our best days are past.
Challenge us to assume our responsibility for the fabric of our life together and to work for justice. Amen
June 30, 2024
II Sam. 1:1, 17-27 or Wisdom of Sol. 1:13-15, 2:23-24
Psalm 130 or Psalm 30 (optionally with Lamentations 3:23-33)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
Our gracious, eternal God, as we approach the Independence Day of our great nation we pause to express our profound gratitude for your many blessings to us. We thank you for those who risked their lives and their fortunes to establish this republic in a democratic fashion. We thank you for the vision of a land with freedom and opportunity. We thank you for the values which motivated and drove our founding fathers and mothers to provide for the free expression of religion, yet protected us against the bias of any religion from extending too long an arm of influence over others. We thank you for the checks and balances written into our constitution to protect us all from tyranny by a few. We thank you for the vision and hope of democracy. And we thank you for the continuing vision to work for a more perfect union.
Give us the courage in our time to embrace their values and to find ways to make our nation more temperate and more just. Help us to follow the vision of St. Paul. Help us to excel not only in the virtues of character but to excel in seriously developing generous spirits to aid the needy peoples of the earth. Help us to work for that more excellent way of love.
As we go about the business of being citizens in this great land protect us from succumbing to the shallowness of cheap slogans and simplistic solutions to difficult problems. Protect us from divisiveness and disrespect for those who differ from us. Protect us from cynicism about the future and denying the power of hope because we mistakenly long for a simpler world and think our best days are past.
Challenge us to assume our responsibility for the fabric of our life together and to work for justice. Amen