On Singing 'The National Anthem' In Worship

I don’t remember why Harold, a deacon, was leading music that day many years ago. I suppose he was filling in during the holiday season. It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving. One hymn he selected was “America The Beautiful.” He introduced the hymn and said, “We thank God for our many blessings, including our country.” I’d not thought of the hymn in this way. Later we sang another familiar hymn of...