Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff
Chaplain, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Washington, DC
Date of Prayer: 12/26/2019
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Almighty God, we pray, reflect, meditate in different ways. And during these holy days––Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, more––some sing
different songs, reflecting beauty, diversity of communities, cultures, faiths that make our Nation rich.
Yet we Americans, we the people, share songs of unity beyond diversity. When we embrace our Nation's highest dreams, our lives become its songs.
Of America, we sing: "O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years."
Of America, we sing: "O beautiful for heroes proved, in liberating strife who more than self, their country love, and mercy more than
life."
God bless our lives, our leaders, with a patriot dream of love of country, love of mercy, freedom, justice––over party, over self; to cooperate, sacrifice, even compromise for the "art of the possible," for the greater good.
God bless America, we sing. Help us, we pray, forever make this Nation worthy of that blessing and that song.
And let us say, Amen.
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