The Tribune

A NATIONAL independence prayer has been created to mark the 40th Anniversary of Independence.

The prayer is confessional in tone but also celebrates families and children and talks of the “bridge to the future” - a recurrent theme for this anniversary, as the country looks forward and aims to learn from its past.

It reminds Bahamians that drugs, crime, violence and broken homes ‘still lurk on every hand’ and seeks guidance for the country’s leaders to “create full and fulfilling employment and so direct our affairs in righteousness and peace”.

Jack Thompson, chairman of the 40th Anniversary Independence Secretariat, has called on the entire Bahamas to say the prayer every day of the countdown to the anniversary.

The National

Independence Prayer

Leader: O come let us sing out to the Lord:

All: Let us shout in triumph to the rock of our salvation

Leader: for the lord is a great God!

All: and a great King above all gods. (Ps. 95:1-3)

LET US PRAY:

Almighty God, you created us in your own image and likeness: we thank you for all warriors in our history who have contended against evil and fought fearlessly for our freedom.

Help us to reverently use our freedom responsibly that justice, equality and fair play might be manifested and maintained in our Bahamas and within and among all nations.

We confess our failure, throughout these forty years of nationhood, to fully reveal your image and likeness.

Drugs, crime, violence and broken homes still lurk on every hand.

We confess our hatred and failure to show kindness, our injury of one another in thought, word and deed, our uncharitable thoughts, prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us...”

We beg you accept our repentance, Lord.

We thank you for abundant blessings of families, for our children and youth – the 


bridge to the future and all those who guide and nurture them, for daily food, for sun, sea and sand.

THANK YOU for minds to think, for health and strength to work and play.

Guide, now, our leaders that they may protect our 

treasures well, create full and fulfilling employment and so direct our affairs in righteousness and peace.

Let us glorify the lord: Father Son, and Holy Spirit.

Praise Him and highly exalt Him for ever for his wonderful gift of this archipelago of Islands, The Bahamas, 

home to us.

May we treasure one another, our Independence and democracy for all times to come.

All: Accept our prayers and thanksgiving Lord we offer you, as one people united in love and service.