Independence Day Celebration, July 3, 2024

Invocation

We have gathered today as a community both to give God thanks for another year of Independence and ask for his continued blessing on our nation and our community here in Los Fresnos. All of our freedoms and blessings come through the Person and Work of Jesus for us. The One who loves us and gave his life for us IS The One who gives us true freedom and grace for each and every day. Let’s pray.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and for Blessing

Merciful and Eternal Father, Ruler of all nations, from You comes all rule and authority over the nations of the world. Thank you for another year of freedom in this great nation. We thank you for another year of spiritual and temporal blessing that you have graciously given us. You have given us this good land as our heritage. You have again sustained this nation and preserved its liberties, among which are those which allow us to gather here and pray as a community.

Teach us again to treasure these freedoms of conscience, speech, worship, and gathering.

Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land.

Give special grace to those who make, administer and judge the laws of this nation, and look in mercy upon all the rulers of the earth.

Save us from violence, discord and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action.

Confound all those who, for the sake of partisanship or other motives, would sacrifice the greater welfare.

May we not misuse our liberties nor forget that true freedom is freedom to serve each other and our neighbors.

Make us always remember your generosity and constantly do your will.

Give us willingness to share in the process of democratic rule, to respect our country’s laws, and to work for the preservation of its institutions.

Make us who came from many nations with many different languages a united people.

Grant that the barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease. We pray that, with our divisions healed, we might live in justice and peace.

When times are prosperous, let our hearts we thankful; and in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail.

Above all, dear God, speed the course of Your Gospel among us, because it is only through the Gospel that any of us will have true freedom and peace.

Turn our hearts toward the cross and its power of forgiveness so that we may know freedom from sin, death, and that devil.

We thank you for all of our blessings that You Alone graciously give through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and was raised for us. Amen.

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Strengthen all those who strive to do Your will.

Protect us from all subversive or terrorist acts.

Grant that all who receive the sword as Your servants may bear it according to Your command.

Enlighten and defend them, and grant them wisdom and understanding, that under their peaceable governance Your people may be guarded and directed in righteousness, quietness and unity.

Protect and prolong their lives that we with them may show forth the praise of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education and an honorable way of life.

We ask all this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into ways of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may move every human heart.

Guide this nation by your Spirit to go forward in justice and freedom.

Give to all our people the blessings of well-being and harmony, but above all things give us faith in you, that our nation may bring glory to your name and blessings to all peoples, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord."

We give thanks to God for the freedom and abundance that we experience as a nation and

May we continue to challenge ourselves to embrace and demonstrate in our lives and laws values of freedom, justice, equality and care for all people.

Forgive our past sins committed as a nation in the name of misguided patriotism, self-interest, or political expediency.

Increase loyalty to You and to our beloved country.

Give peace to your Church, peace in our homes and peace in our hearts, through your dear Son. Amen.