Pastoral Prayer for July 7, 2024

Our pastoral prayer for today comes to us from Corinne McLaughlin​​ 

and Gordon Davidson and is in honor of Independence Day.

May we as a nation be guided by the Divine

to rediscover the sacred flame of our national heritage,

which so many have given their lives to safeguard.

Let the wounds of separation and division be healed

by opening our hearts to listen to the truth on all sides,

allowing us to find a higher truth that includes us all.

May we learn to honor and enjoy our diversity and differences as a people,

even as we more deeply touch our fundamental unity.

May we, as a people, undergo a transformation

that will draw forth individuals to lead our nation

who embody courage, compassion, and a higher vision.

May our leaders inspire us, and we so inspire each other

with our potential as individuals and as a nation,

that a new spirit of forgiveness, caring, and honesty be born in our nation.

May we, as a united people, move with clear, directed purpose

to take our place within the community of nations

to help build a better future for all humankind.

May we as a nation rededicate ourselves to truly living as one nation,

under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

And may God’s Will be done for the United States,

as we, the people, align with that will.

Amen.