An Invocation for the Peachtree Road Race
By the Very Reverend Sam G. Candler
Blessings, Blessings, Blessings!
From all over America, from all over the world, we return today for the blessings of running and rejoicing, for the blessings of diversity and freedom!
We return today! A pandemic trapped many of us, unable to visit friends and family, unable to mingle, unable to rejoice in community.
But we return to community today. And we return to the joys of running and walking and rolling and smiling and cheering. We run and roll and walk in freedom today! Thank God!
Whoever we are today, we are One! The Peachtree Road Race gathers all sorts and conditions of humanity into one blessing of America on this Fourth of July.
In the name of God, and in all the names of God, we bless each other in the Peachtree Road Race.
Blessings to Muslims: Asalamu Aleikum!
Blessings to Jews: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu!
Blessings to Christians: Jesus loves you! Benedicite Deus!
To Hindus, to Buddhists, to atheists, to agnostics.
God blesses each and every one of us. Dios les bendiga!
Our rejoicing is a blessing! Let us rejoice! Hip, Hip: Hooray! Hip, Hip: Hooray! Hip, Hip Hooray!
In the Name of God – the God above us and the God beside us, the God at the starting line and the God at the finish line – we bless each other. In the running of the Peachtree Road Race today, in Atlanta, God bless all of America. AMEN.
The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler
Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip