PRAYERS FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

O God, our help in in ages past, our Hope for years to come, I give You grateful thanks on this anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence for the priceless blessing of liberty that with Your help were won for me by my ancestors. Stir up within me, I pray You, a new appreciation of the life, liberty, & pursuit of happiness I enjoy in this land of the free, & a greater readiness to serve my nation with my talents. Teach me, above all, to treasure that precious freedom of conscience & worship, without which other liberties would not long survive. May I never contribute to the loss of these dearly won blessings by my own selfishness, ambition, or indifference.

Teach me furthermore, O Lord, that the enjoyment of freedom brings with it the responsibility to serve. To that end make me willing to respect the laws of my country, to serve my fellow citizens well in any office of trust to which I may be elected, to exercise faithfully my privilege to vote, & to give my loyal support to all public institutions.

Bless all those in authority. Give wisdom & faithfulness to those in positions of leadership. Preserve them from becoming the prey of selfish pressure groups, & give them willingness to serve the interests of the public.

Grant enduring peace to our country & its institutions, so that Your Gospel may be able without hindrance to turn the hearts of all from the bondage of sin to the freedom won by the blood of our precious Redeemer, in whose name & for whose sake we ask this. Amen. My Prayer Book

Eternal Father, Ruler of all nations, on this day when my country celebrates its birth, l I thank You for all spiritual & temporal blessings enjoyed in our land. In Your mercy, You have sustained this nation in times of trouble & preserved its liberties. Teach me anew to treasure especially that dearly won freedom of conscience & worship that is the cornerstone of this country's principles. Let me not misuse this liberty nor forget that true freedom is freedom to serve. Give me willingness to share in the process of democratic rule, to respect my country's laws, & to work for the preservation of its institutions. Forgive our past sins committed as a nation in the name of misguided patriotism, self-interest, or political expediency. Confound all those who, for the sake of partisanship or other motives, would sacrifice the greater welfare. Grant wisdom to our leaders. Strengthen all those who strive to do Your will. Increase loyalty to You & to our beloved country. Protect me & my fellow citizens from all subversive or terrorist acts. Above all, dear God, speed the course of Your Gospel among us, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, hearts are turned to that freedom from sin & death that You alone graciously give through Jesus Christ. Amen. Lutheran Book of Prayer

NATION & NATIONAL SONGS

God Bless Our Native Land (LSB 965)

God bless our native land; Firm may she ever stand Through storm & night. When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of wind & wave, Do Thou our country save By Thy great might.

So shall our prayers arise To God above the skies; On Him we wait. Thou who art ever nigh, Guarding with watchful eye, To Thee aloud we cry:  God save the state!

Before You, Lord, We Bow (LSB 966, Sts. 1, 2, 4, 5)

Before You, Lord, we bow, Our God who reigns above And rules the world below, Boundless in pow'r & love. Our thanks we bring In joy & praise, Our hearts we raise To You, our King!

The nation You have blest May well Your love declare, From foes & fears at rest, Protected by Your care, for this bright day, For this fair land--Gifts of Your hand--Our thanks we pay.

Earth, hear your Maker's voice; Your great Redeemer own; Believe, obey, rejoice, And worship Him alone. Cast down your pride, Your sin deplore, And bow before The Crucified.

And when in pow'r He comes, Oh, may our native land From all its rending tombs Send forth a glorious band, A countless throng, With joy to sing To heav'n's high King Salvation's song!