Prayer for Our Nation

The petition we offer this weekend in the Prayer of the Church:

Ruler of the nations, You hold in Your hand all the might of man. This weekend we give You thanks for our nation's independence and for the high ideals on which it was founded, ideals we have not always faithfully and fully upheld. We beg You to remove from us all rancor and discord, injustice and prejudice, party spirit and ill-treatment of those with whom we differ. Grant that we might truly become one nation from many peoples, working together for the common good in every place. To that end, pour Your blessing upon all our elected officials, magistrates and judges. Grant to all our public servants wisdom and courage, integrity and compassion. Keep under Your divine protection all who serve in our armed forces and all our first responders. Lord, in Your mercy, R.