A   LITANY  

FOR   CHRISTIAN   WORSHIP

ON   INDEPENDENCE   DAY

LEADER:

WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THIS COUNTRY, "SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY," A HAVEN OF HOPE, OUR HOME AND INHERITANCE.

PEOPLE:

WE CONSECRATE THIS DAY TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRED IDEALS OF JUSTICE AND INDEPENDENCE WHICH BROUGHT IT TO BIRTH.

WE PRAISE YOU, CREATOR GOD, FOR OUR NATION’S BEAUTY, ITS GLACIERS AND ITS TROPICS; ITS ANCIENT FORESTS AND SHIMMERING DESERTS; ITS MIGHTY CITIES AND ITS RURAL QUIET; ITS ROARING SEASHORES, CRYSTAL CLEAR SPRINGS, STILL LAKES AND COURSING RIVERS; ITS VOLCANOES, MOUNTAINS AND CAVERNS; ITS PLOWED FIELDS AND ITS ECHOING WILDERNESS.

LEADER:

THANK YOU FOR ITS GLORIOUS WILDLIFE -- HUMMINGBIRDS AND MOUNTAIN LIONS, ANTELOPE AND FIREFLIES, OTTER AND SALMON, COYOTES AND EAGLES, MANATEES AND GRIZZLY BEARS.

ALL:

WE LIFT UP OUR HEARTS IN THANKS FOR THE BEAUTY OF OUR COUNTRY’S LAND, WATERS AND AIR, AND ALL ITS RADIANT LIFE; HELP US TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THEM.

PEOPLE:

HOW WONDROUS IS OUR PEOPLE, O LORD. THANK YOU FOR THE WEALTH OF DIFFERENCES THAT "OUT OF MANY ARE ONE." FOR NATIVE AMERICANS HERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS, FOR NEW ARRIVALS AT OUR PORTS OF ENTRY TODAY; FOR ENGLISH PILGRIMS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS; FOR SPANISH EXPLORERS AND DUTCH MERCHANTS; FOR CAMBODIAN REFUGEES AND PAKISTANI STUDENTS –FOR EVERY TRIBE, COLOR, CLAN AND NATION REPRESENTED HERE, THANK YOU, O GOD.

LEADER:

FOR EVERYTHING GOOD IN THE REASONS THAT BROUGHT US HERE –A SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE, A TRIUMPH OVER THE ODDS, DETERMINATION FOR DELIVERANCE, DESIRE FOR OPPORTUNITY, A QUEST FOR EDUCATION, A PASSION FOR EXPLORING, LOVE OF FAMILY, A SENSE OF MISSION – WE ALSO THANK YOU, WHO ARE THE LORD OF ALL OUR JOURNEYS,  FOR ALL OF THE MANY PLACES FROM WHICH WE HAVE COME, THAT HAVE GIVEN EACH OF US STRENGTHS TO SHARE, WE PRAISE AND THANK YOU. HOW BLESSED AND RICH WE ARE IN ONE ANOTHER! FROM THIS VAST RESERVOIR OF ABILITY, INTELLIGENCE AND TALENT, O LORD, LET US DRAW FULLY AND TOGETHER TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF OUR DAY.

ALL:

LET US NOT REST, O LORD, UNTIL WE HAVE USHERED IN THE DAY WHEN CHILDREN OF EVERY RACE AND CONDITION, MALE OR FEMALE, MAY WITHOUT BARRIER OR IMPEDIMENT PARTAKE EQUALLY IN OPPORTUNITIES TO FULFILL THE POTENTIAL WITH WHICH YOU HAVE ENDOWED THEM. MAY WE WHO HAVE SO PROSPERED UNDER THE BLESSINGS OF OUR BIRTHRIGHT, EXTEND THOSE BLESSINGS ACROSS EVERY BOUNDARY OF PRIVILEGE OR PREJUDICE.

LEADER:

INSPIRE OUR DETERMINATION TO FULFILL OUR NATION’S HIGHEST PROMISE. GRANT THAT BY THE POWER OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT WE MAY WITH COURAGE AND WISDOM CONTEND WITH EVERY TYRANNY YET UNCONQUERED IN OUR MIDST.

PEOPLE:

CALL TO OUR REMEMBRANCE THE SACRIFICE AND FORESIGHT OF OUR NATION’S FOUNDERS, THAT WE MAY NOT RETREAT INTO MERELY PRIVATE PURSUITS, BUT RISE TO THE CALL OF DUTY IN OUR DAY AS THEY DID IN THEIRS.

GRANT THAT WE, TOO, MAY LIVE NOT MERELY FOR THE PRESENT OR FOR OURSELVES BUT THAT WE MAY SERVE THE FUTURE WITH ACTION IN ACCORD WITH OUR BEST TRADITIONS.

LEADER:

WE, WHO ARE FIRST CITIZENS OF YOUR KINGDOM, O GOD, SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE THAT WE MAY BE ALSO GOOD CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTRY. STRENGTHEN AND ENLIGHTEN US BY YOUR GRACE THAT OUR LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY MAY EXPRESS ITSELF IN OUR LOVE AND CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

ALL:

DELIVER US FROM MERELY SENTIMENTAL PATRIOTISM. GIVE US HEARTS THAT SEEK TO SERVE OUR BELOVED COUNTRY, THAT OUR PRECIOUS FREEDOM BE NOT IDLY SQUANDERED IN VAIN AND SELF-CENTERED PURSUITS, NOR PERVERTED INTO THE PRACTICES THAT DENY IT TO OTHERS, BUT EVER BE DIRECTED TO ITS SAFEKEEPING AND TO THE PRESERVATION OF THAT EXPANSIVE LIBERTY OF MIND, HEART AND WILL WHICH YOU, O LORD, FIRST GAVE US.

           IN THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.