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Our Blessed Father,
Today you have seen fit to call home to you our former and very well-loved President, Ronald Reagan.

Father, this man appeared to many of us to be devoted to doing your Will and pursuing your Vision. He had a warmth and humor which was as infectious as it was comforting after a period of stress and upheaval. One of the first things accomplished by his strength was the release of the Iranian hostages. Father, we are still grateful for your protecting arm upon those people during that horrible time.

We saw this man wounded by a would-be assassin's bullet. You answered our prayers to protect and preserve his life. Father, thank you for not calling him home at that time, for we still needed him.

You guided him during those years of confrontation with the Soviet Union. Your Spirit moved upon him, and he spoke the simple yet stark words, "TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!" You gave him the keys and the strategies to cause this to happen. The Wall came down.

Father, there are so many memories of this one who was our Commander In Chief. Many of us growing up in the 50's and 60's have fond memories of his television program "Death Valley Days." We still laugh and appreciate some of the madcap comedies he played in. We STILL refer to him as the "Gipper" from his portrayal of that football legend. We gasped in amazement in those pre-Rush Limbaugh days, at hearing his voice of reason coming from our radios. We were amazed to see this simple actor climb the political ladder with such success, from President of the Screen Actors Guild, to Governor of California, to President.

We have grieved with him and his family upon learning that he was struck down with Alzheimers. Father, we are grateful that the suffering is ended. He and his family have extended a blessed hand of assistance to the many thousands of us dealing with that disease by being open and providing such helpful role models. Their openness has been the impetus for much of the recent research and breakthroughs which are taking place now. We grieve now for the final loss of his presence among us. We ask that you will enfold and comfort his family and those closest to him.

Comfort, Father, this entire nation who feels this loss keenly. We ask also that as we meditate upon and celebrate his life, that we may be granted as a people a strong reminder of the lessons he had to teach.

Let us remember that when we see evil, not only is it ok, but it is actually required that we name it for what it is. Help us to remember that real courage is taking ahold of your divine Vision and not allowing any distractions tear us from our course. Help us to remember that when we start something, we must finish it.

If it is at all in accordance to thy Will and and Law, and if you call him to do so, please let him work with our current leaders in some way by somehow sharing his wisdom with them.

Father, we commend into your keeping, with great gratitude our own President Ronald Reagan. We are grateful that your moving finger wrote and he was the man for his time.

amen