[tubebender]

Wife and I went to Church this morning and the Pastor had selected three songs, Once to Every Man and Nation, In the Garden and The Old Rugged Cross and I had a tough time containing my emotions with that one as my earliest memories of life on the farm in the late 30s and through the 40s listening to the Louisiana Hay Ride and the Grand Ole Opry on the old Admiral tube radio on Saturday nights. My brothers were drafted in May and June of 43 and my 2 older sisters went away to work in a "defense" plant and that left a hole in my life that continues today even though they all came home and raised families.

Just prior to Communion Pastor said the Pianist would play America the Beautiful and the members sang along and I don't think there was a dry eye in the Church. Be sure to read about the origins of the song...

[Tax-chick]

We did “America the Beautiful” for our entrance song today. Our congregation is Spanish-speaking, but many are bilingual and joined in.

“In the Garden” is my father’s favorite. I think he’s probably about your age ... born in 1936.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Beautiful. After several ordinary hymns, we ended with America the Beautiful yesterday. However, the Pastor’s homily was on how we’d all won the lottery just because we live here and how great life is here compared to the rest of the world.

I tried to contain myself because I fully expected him to launch into the next part which would be, **and so we need to welcome all immigrants and those who are seeking sanctuary because Jesus, Mary and Joseph were immigrants to Egypt during our Lord’s first year of life.**

BUT, he didn’t say that, and so it turned out to be a great homily after all. I’d be OK with all those thoughts I’m attributing to him that he never said, except he never differentiates between legal and illegal immigrants. Legal makes all the difference to me — especially when you see what they’re hauling across the border.

[LibreOuMort]

I like the sound of your church, Tubebender (are you a boilermaker?) Once to Every Man and Nation is one of my all time favorites - wish we’d had it at our church. The Old Rugged Cross never fails to put me in tears before the end of the first refrain. An old family friend (long since gone home) said that was his favorite and he wanted it sung at his funeral. You may not have been in World War II but you served just the same at home. Everyone did their part, saved, went without and prayed and worked tirelessly for the War Effort. There is no such spirit today - our nation is sadly and very deeply divided. Our troops aren’t getting the support they need or deserve. (A really big sore spot with me).

Thank you for your sweet post and for your love of country. I hope this next generation catches on.....