The GREAT BOOK OF NEEDS has a few prayers for “Civil Feast Days.” Two of them captured my attention. The first is simply a petition from a litany which I adapted for use at Matins this morning:
“O our God Who are inscrutable in mercy: Do You grant unto Your servants, our rulers, the prosperity of Moses, the courage of David, and the wisdom of Solomon, unto the glory of Your Name, we pray to You, O All-holy King, hear us and have mercy.”
The second prayer is a bit longer and very a good one for all of us to offer for our country this 4th of July:
“O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the God of all mercies and compassions, Whose mercy cannot be measured and Whose love for mankind is an unfathomable deep: As unprofitable servants falling down with fear and trembling before Your majesty, we humbly offer thanksgiving for Your deep compassion revealed in the benefits You bestowed upon our land; we glorify, praise, hymn and magnify You as Lord and Master and Benefactor; and again bowing down in thanksgiving for Your immeasurable and ineffable loving-kindness, humbly we pray: As now You have counted Your servants worthy by receiving our supplications and mercifully fulfilling them, likewise in the time to come, as we flourish in sincere love for You and in every virtue, grant all Your faithful to receive Your blessings. Deliver our land and its rulers from every evil circumstance: grant them peace and tranquility, count them worthy always to offer thanksgiving to You, to tell of Your most-gracious blessings, and to sing to You, to Your eternal Father and to Your most-holy, good and consubstantial Spirit; God worshipped in one essence. Glory to You, O God, our Benefactor, unto ages of ages. Amen.”
To all my fellow Americans I wish a joyous and safe Independence Day celebration.
“There can be no doubt but that love for anything that exists is divided into these two types. One may lustfully love one’s motherland, working to make sure that it develops gloriously and victoriously, overcoming and destroying all its enemies. Or one can love it in a Christian manner, working to see that the face of Christ’s truth is revealed more and more clearly within it.” (Mother Maria Skobtsova in Essential Writings, pg 178)
You can view my set of Independence Day Fireworks photos at Independence Day 2011 Fireworks. Once on the page just click on “Slideshow” which is immediately above the thumb nail photos.
“O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the God of all mercies and compassions, Whose mercy cannot be measured and Whose love for mankind is an unfathomable deep: As unprofitable servants falling down with fear and trembling before Your majesty, we humbly offer thanksgiving for Your deep compassion revealed in the benefits You bestowed upon our land; we glorify, praise, hymn and magnify You as Lord and Master and Benefactor; and again bowing down in thanksgiving for Your immeasurable and ineffable loving-kindness, humbly we pray: As now You have counted Your servants worthy by receiving our supplications and mercifully fulfilling them, likewise in the time to come, as we flourish in sincere love for You and in every virtue, grant all Your faithful to receive Your blessings. Deliver our land and its rulers from every evil circumstance: grant them peace and tranquility, count them worthy always to offer thanksgiving to You, to tell of Your most-gracious blessings, and to sing to You, to Your eternal Father and to Your most-holy, good and consubstantial Spirit; God worshipped in one essence. Glory to You, O God, our Benefactor, unto ages of ages. Amen.”
Glow sticks seem to be as much a part of Independence Day celebrations as fireworks and barbecues.
To all my fellow Americans I wish a joyous and safe Independence Day celebration.
Fraternized 