"HEART OF AMERICA"
May 30, 1986

BLESSING

John M. Buchanan
Pastor
Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago

Almighty God, you have made the world and blessed it with
your creative energy. You were present at the beginning,
hovering over the waters, as a Spirit of power and beauty

and love and life.

We thank you Lord God, for the goodness of it all: for
bright, clear summer days, warm sun, fresh breeze and
your invitation to live fully and joyfully and exuberantly
in the good creation you have given us.

We thank you for blessing us with restlessness, and
impatience and eagerness. We thank you for ‘your image
in us which is what causes us to aspire to greatness,

to create, to build, to achieve, to do the best we can,

to go higher and faster and to be all you created us to be.

We bless your name, Lord God, for this boat and for what
it represents of our humanity: for the effort and sacrifice
and aspiration: for the hope and joy of fierce competition
ahead: for the discipline of its crew and the skill of

its skipper.

Give your gifts of safety and courage and strength to
those who will saif her. Give to them and to all those
with whom they will compete your blessing and protection
and the gift of your strong Jove which calls us to live
fully and joyfully. Bless them and their boat, O God,
now and in the days ahead.

Amen.