BEGINNING THE DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23277, 21 February 1939, Page 6

BEGINNING THE DAY

(Supplied by the Council of Christian Congregations.) Text. —Pray for kings, for all men, and for all that are in authority, that Ave may lead a peaceable life. 1 Tim. 2 : 1. " Verse.— Not on this land alone. But be God's mercies knownFrom shore to shore; And may the nations see That men should brothers be. And form one family The wide world o'er. Prayer.—We thank Thee O Lord for our King and the Royal Family and their loyal love to the people and the > common good. Make tliem to become a great blessing and power for peace in these days of, fear. Bles? all world rulers and everv nation. We lay upon the altar of our intercession this sorry, storm-tossed world. We name the names of Spain and China in the courts of Thy sanctuary with heavy hearts.' We remember the distress and' catastrophe everywhere ainong the nations. 0 God, forgive us all that we so. have sinned against light and that instead of founding a peaceful order of brotherhood under law. we have turned out backs upon the sunshine and have set our feet toward darkness and night. Ours is the sin, O God. the sin of all of us, that violence stalks broadcast across the earth. Bring the people to penitence and the rulers of the people to Thy mercy 6eat, we beseech Thee, that in the day of our opportunity we may choose light and not darkness, law and not slaughter, brotherhood and not enmity, peace and not war.