Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Government

A Prayer for Those Who Govern

ALL SINGING: America the Beautiful, first verse

O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!

ONE:

Lord of All, we confess our dependence on you. Thank you for extending abundance, mercy, and protection to our nation through the years. Every resource, freedom, and opportunity we have is a good gift from you. Without you, we are lost.

ALL:

In humility, we seek your face.

In repentance, we turn from our ungrateful, destructive, and selfish ways.

In faith, we call on your power to forgive our sin and heal our land.

ALL SINGING: America the Beautiful, second verse

O beautiful for heroes prov’d in liberating strife,

Who more than self their country lov’d, and mercy more than life.

America! America! May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness, and ev’ry gain divine.

ONE:

Pour out your Holy Spirit on those who govern our land. Leaders of our nation, our state, and our community and all who are running for office. Grant them a love of justice. Open their minds with wisdom and compassion, so all people may be treated fairly and with dignity. Open their ears to the cries of the desperate and powerless so cycles of poverty, disease, and abuse may be broken. Open their eyes to see how best to respond and open their hearts with courage to do the right thing, even when pressured to do otherwise.

Dawn a new day of integrity and servant leadership upon our land. Shower down your Spirit of collaboration for the common good that there may be lasting peace and plenty for all.

Congregation is invited to lift their own prayers for our nation

ONE:

We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Leader and Savior forever, Amen.

Option: We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Leader and Savior forever, who taught us to pray, Our Father, who art in heaven….

ALL SINGING: America the Beautiful, fourth verse

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!

America! America! God mend thine every flaw,

confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.

Prayer for Those Who Govern © 2021 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com