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Download the 8:50 a.m. Service bulletin

Download the 10:50 a.m. Service bulletin

Bulletins are uploaded on the Friday before these Sunday services.

by Joshua L. Mazur, Director of Music 

Hymn 718: God of Our Fathers

As we gather for worship during the week of our nation’s Independence Day, “God of Our Fathers” offers a distinctly Christian perspective on patriotism. Written in 1876 by Daniel Crane Roberts to commemorate the centennial of the United States, and paired with George Warren’s majestic tune NATIONAL HYMN, it is not a song that glorifies a nation. Rather, it is a prayer that places every nation beneath the sovereign rule of Almighty God.

Its opening words immediately establish that perspective.

“God of our fathers, whose almighty hand

leads forth in beauty all the starry band…”

Notice where the hymn begins. It does not begin with America, but with God. Before it speaks of our history, it proclaims the Lord as Creator and Ruler of all nations. The hymn reminds us that our deepest allegiance belongs not to any earthly kingdom, but to the Kingdom of God.

Each succeeding stanza becomes a prayer. We ask God to preserve our freedoms, not for our own comfort or prosperity, but so that justice, truth, and righteousness may flourish. We pray for wisdom, courage, and humility, recognizing that every nation stands accountable before the Lord of history.

George Warren’s stirring tune, NATIONAL HYMN, reflects both dignity and reverence. Its broad phrases and noble character evoke gratitude without triumphalism. The music reminds us that thanksgiving is most fitting when it is directed toward God rather than ourselves.

This hymn speaks beautifully to this Sunday’s appointed lessons. In Genesis, Abraham entrusts the future to God’s providence as a wife is sought for Isaac. The story reminds us that God faithfully guides His people through every generation. In Romans, St. Paul honestly describes humanity’s inability to save itself through its own strength, directing us instead to the grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus extends His gracious invitation: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Together these readings remind us that our hope rests not in human achievement, national strength, or personal effort, but in the faithful providence and mercy of God.

That is precisely what this hymn teaches us to sing. Gratitude for our country is entirely appropriate, but it must always be shaped by Christian faith. We give thanks for the blessings God has bestowed, we pray for our leaders and our neighbors, and we seek the welfare of our nation. Yet we remember that every earthly kingdom is temporary, while the Kingdom of Christ endures forever.

As you sing this hymn on Sunday, notice that it is offered as a prayer rather than a celebration. It invites us to love our country best by entrusting it to the care and governance of the God who is Lord of all nations.

As you sing, consider this question:

How can my love for my country reflect an even deeper love for the Kingdom of God?