Grace and peace to you and your loved ones,
I trust that you and your loved ones have been well and blessed.
“America, America, God shed his grace on thee.” Those lines are both a statement and a prayer. Indeed, God has shed his grace on this country. When leaders of our new country gathered to declare independence, when they gathered to write a constitution, God gave them grace. A hundred years later, when our country was threatened with civil war, God gave us grace—even in bloodshed—to avoid secession. The twentieth century saw the United States become a world leader in commerce and trade. When our country was drawn into wars abroad, God gave us grace to overcome dictatorship and totalitarianism.
Katherine Lee Bates recognized what was right with America. In 1893 a group of teachers decided to visit Pike’s Peak, elevation 14,000 feet. Katherine wrote of that trip, “We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the ways on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy: All the wonder of America seemed displayed there with the sea-like expanse.
It was then and there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country, spreading away so far under those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind. When we left Colorado Springs the four stanzas were penciled into my notebook.”
Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law.
Continue to strengthen your home altars by praying together as a family and sharing the word of God. This practice will produce strong individuals.
Please find a link to our 1st Sunday after Epiphany and Baptism of our Lord service. I look forward to you joining our Live streamed service on our website starting at 9:15am with Prelude and service at 9:30am follow this link:
https://saintpeterschurch.net/
Our bulletin is also attached here.
Sincerely,
Fr. Samuel K. Ndungu