Hymns from home: america the beautiful

PRAY
Lord, thank you for those who have given up their lives in pursuit of the freedom and justice our country was founded on.  We remember today their courage and the great sacrifice they made.  For those currently serving our country in the military we pray for comfort, strength and safety for them and for their families, and we ask for wisdom for our leaders.  Amen.

LYRIC
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress,
A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country love And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

Oh beautiful for halcyon skies For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress,
A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrims foot and knee!

Oh beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife,
When once and twice for man’s avail Men lavished precious life!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
Till selfish gain no longer strain The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee!​

SCRIPTURE
John 15:12-13

BACKGROUND

America The Beautiful was written by Katharine Lee Bates. Bates graduated from Wellesley College and taught at both the highschool and the collegiate level. She wrote all manner of things from textbooks to children's books, poetry and travel guides.  In 1893 while lecturing in Colorado, she went to the top of Pike's Peak and was inspired by the views she experienced there that she sat down and wrote the first four verses, which were published as a poem in a weekly journal soon thereafter. She continued to revise the lyrics until 1913.

The tune, MATERNA, was written in 1882 by American organist and composer Samuel Augusus Ward.  Ward originally composed the tune for a different Hymn, "O Mother Dear, Jerusalem."  However after Ward's death, a publisher combined the tune with Bates' poem (then simply titled "America") and the result obviously became wildly popular.  Bates and Ward never met.  He was posthumously inducted into the songwriters hall of fame in 1970.
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PERSONAL

Since today we celebrate memorial day, I thought it was in order to share something patriotic and since America The Beautiful is frequently included in the hymnal, it seemed a perfect choice.  Today's scripture reference connects with the first part of the lesser-sung third verse of this tune...I've put that specific portion in red italics above.  The scripture says that there is no greater love than if a man lays down his life for his friends, and in this sense I am going to broadly define the term "Friends" as not only those who we have willingly stepped into relationship with based on mutual admiration, but also as our family, and our countrymen...yes, even those countrymen who vote differently than the way you do.

Although I have several veterans in my family tree the one that I am most connected to was is my late maternal grandfather, George Christophersen who served in the U.S. Army during the second World War.  Although he was lucky enough to come home from the war and raise a family and lead a long and productive life after serving, the stories he told have certainly stuck with me.  I have deep amounts of respect for his character that he would endure hardship selflessly for the greater good.

Thank you to each of you who have served, or who have borne the sacrifice of having a loved one serve.  May we remember you today and each day.