O LORD our Governor, whose glory is in all the world; We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness; and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
Anyone who grew up with the traditional Book of Common Prayer (1928) in the age of Morning Prayer three Sundays a month, knows this prayer for the President, which we prayed faithfully every Sunday morning.
We haven't heard or prayed it in a while; but it came to mind this past spring when Linda and I visited Christ Church, Vicksburg, Mississippi, where my great-great grandfather George Weller was the first rector, 1839-1841, dying in the yellow fever epidemic. Prepping myself for visiting his church, while Linda was driving, my iPad found an online history of CCV that had this to say about the prayer: “An event which may seem ludicrous today, but was serious at the time, occurred at the Christmas service in 1863. The church service was well attended by Union soldiers and the minister was very conscious of the fact. As a traditional part of the Episcopal church service, a prayer is offered for the President of the United States. During the civil war, the ministers in the Confederate states modified this part of the service so that they prayed for the President of the Confederate States of America While the civil war was still not over in 1863, under the conditions existing in Vicksburg (i.e., Union occupation) and the church at that time, the minister prayed for the President of the United States instead of the President of the Confederate States. Several ladies of the congregation made a pointed exit from the church when this change in the service was noted and the commanding general of the Union troops noted the exit as well. The next day the offending ladies were ordered to leave the city by the offended General and banned them from the area for an extended length of time.”
My prayer this morning is for the President and for all Americans. For prosperity, and especially for justice and peace.
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