(for Independence and other days)
1. God of our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band.
Of Shining worlds in splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs, before thy throne arise.
2. Thy Love divine hath led us in the past.
In this free land by thee our lot is cast.
Be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay.
Thy Word Our Law^, thy Paths our chosen ways*.
3. From wars alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be thy Strong arm our ever sure defense*;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy Bounteous goodness, nourish us in peace.
4. Refresh thy people on their toilsome way;
Lead us from night, to never ending day;
Fill all our lives, with love and grace^ divine*,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
----Fr. Daniel C. Roberts, 1876; a priest in the Episcopal church, honoring our nation's centennial.
*I don't believe in trying to create "a Christian nation" here in America. We weren't told to create a theocracy in the New Testament. But I am grateful that we live in a country where we can freely practice and share our faith. I am hopeful and prayerful that neither the foolishness nor extremism on either the Right or the Left will ruin that for us here.
^While a nice enough hymn in its way, this hymn speaks nothing about grace & love actually coming from the suffering and death of Christ for our sins.
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