Saturday, July 3, 2010

Great Hymn...

O God of Every Nation
William W. Reid Jr.

O God of every nation, of every race and land,
redeem your whole creation with your almighty hand;
where hate and fear divide us, and bitter threats are hurled,
in love and mercy guide us, and heal our strife-torn world.

From search for wealth and power and scorn of truth and right,
from trust in bombs that shower destruction through the night,
from pride of race and station and blindness to your way,
deliver every nation, eternal God, we pray.

Lord, strengthen all who labor that all may find release
from fear of rattling saber, from dread of war's increase;
when hope and courage falter, Lord, let your voice be heard;
with faith that none can alter, your servants undergird.

Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease,
when hatred and division give way to love and peace,
till dawns the morning glorious when truth and justice reign,
and Christ shall rule victorious o'er all the world's domain.

During World War II, William W. Reid, Jr. (1923-2007) served in the medical corps of the U.S. Army, spending eight months as a prisoner of war. Bill was a Methodist minister whose life was marked by his work for social justice and on behalf of the imprisoned and impoverished.

Source: The United Methodist Hymnal

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