Deus Misereatur

  O God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, who executes lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for it is in these you delight (Jeremiah 9:24). Glory to you, O Lord! We pray for your Church throughout the nations, this congregation, and New Bethel Church of God in Christ, Rainbow, Trinity, and Victory Temple. Fill your dearly loved people with courage and divine determination as we aim at seeking first your kingdom and your righteousness. Fill up all our lack; grant good health; guide our every step in godly ways, strengthening our desire to be faithful disciples of Christ. And grant us to treat our enemies and detractors with the same gracious kindness you treated us when we were your enemies. We call out to you those we know who need to repent of their sins and believe in Christ, as well as those who have strayed away and need to be restored, and those whose faith has been traumatized (…). Turn them from the father of lies and bring them to embrace ...

O ETERNAL God , through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here is the prayer for Independence Day from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer: Independence Day. [July 4.] The Collect. O ETERNAL God , through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. I like this particular version of the prayer far better than the slightly embellished one found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer {**see the end of this post}. It's short, thoughtful, and too the point. Notice how the prayer breaks down. The Attribution: First, the God from whom our forbearers gained strength to win their liberties is not some fleeting, momentary divinity, but the eternal, unending, indestructible God. Next, our liberties are attributed to this God's active, powerful providential involvement, "through whose almighty powers our fathers won their liberties of old". The Petit...