lowrey

what a great benediction.



[from the negro national anthem, verse 3]

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
God who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by thy might
Led us into the light
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee
Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee
Shadowed beneath thy hand
May we forever stand.

True to thee, O God
And true to our native land.

[from biblical references in isaiah & amos]

Help us then now Lord to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation
When tanks shall be beaten into tractors
When every man and every woman shall sit under his and her own vine and fig tree
And none shall be afraid.

[unexpected and light interjection]

When justice will roll down like waters
And righteousness as a mighty stream
Lord in the memory of all the saints who have from all their labors rest
And in the joy of a new beginning
We ask you to help us pray for that day when black will not be asked to get in back,
When brown can stick around,
When yellow will be mellow,
When the red man can get ahead, man,
And when white will embrace what is right.

[from micah]

That all those who will do justice and love mercy
Say amen, say amen,
And amen.