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(dramatic music) [Music] ♪ Father, I'm ready ♪ ♪ I'm ready to be ♪

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♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Father, I know ♪ ♪ I know ♪ ♪ Here come ♪

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♪ Here come ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Come ye ♪ ♪ Oh, Christmas ♪

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♪ I stand, I know ♪ ♪ I live, I know ♪ ♪ His love, He knew ♪ ♪ Keep all my good ♪

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♪ My prayer ♪ ♪ I'll take my place ♪ ♪ In heaven with you ♪ ♪ I hear you ♪

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♪ I know ♪ ♪ I'll be there ♪ ♪ I'll never ♪ ♪ Walk away ♪

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♪ To thee, my King ♪ ♪ I give ♪ ♪ Thee all ♪ ♪ Thee I ♪

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♪ O praise ♪ ♪ My God is here ♪ ♪ I hear my God is now ♪ ♪ He's mine ♪

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[MUSIC PLAYING] (dramatic music) (dramatic music) (dramatic music)

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♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm standing on the edge of the sea ♪

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♪ I'm standing on the edge of the sea ♪ ♪ I'm standing on the edge of the sea ♪ [Music] In culminating our celebration of the Black Heritage during this particular month,

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liberation observance here today. In connection with it for this message I'd like to invite your prayerful attention to a passage of scripture recorded in Psalm 68 verse 31. princes shall come out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

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The subject of the message, reach for heaven, reach for heaven. Each year I have worn dress that is descriptive of the preacher during the period of servitude in this country. This year, however, the message is focused on our African heritage. and as we think of the role of the black preacher both during slavery time and thereafter it has

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been rather significant. One of the professors from the University of Texas was here last year and he sent me a book on Africa so if he's here today I want him to know that I read it in connection with this sermon preparation and as I read it I thought of the preacher who had a cold and he went to the doctor

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to get some treatment for it and the doctor said well Reverend I think I'll have to give you a shot said drop your pants He said what are you gonna do? He said well, I'm gonna put it in the hip He said, "Oh no, doctor, you can't do that.

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When I preach, I get happy and I sit down and I walk around. I don't want it there." And he said, "Well, I'll put it in your arm." He said, "Oh no, no, don't put it in my arm because I wave my arms when I preach."

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And the doctor finally, out of desperation, said, "Well, Reverend, is there any part of you that you don't use while you're preaching. And he thought for a moment, he said, "Yes, you can give it to me in my head." So we hope that as we focus prayerfully on this passage of scripture that it might shed

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some light and inspiration as we engage in the freedom struggle. Princes shall come out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. This particular scripture has been a source of inspiration to Afro-Americans through the years.

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I can remember as a boy how often this particular passage of scripture was quoted. I remember seeing it on the cover of Sunday School Literature. people delighted in it because it showed the participation of black people in relation to the ancient biblical faith. While I heard it often quoted I do not

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ever remember having heard a sermon delivered on it or neither have I read a a sermon that dealt with it but it was nevertheless a source of inspiration. So we come here today to celebrate our striving. Life you see is hopeful striving. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. This striving, this

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stretching is reaching, reaching for something. It's seeking that which is higher, that which is identified with the highest and best, reaching for the ultimate, what Paul Tillich calls ultimate concern, is reaching for heaven. Robert Browning says, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp. What's a

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heavenfall. We associate heaven with paradise, happiness, the home of God, the throne of the eternal Heavenly Father. Heaven is the end of our striving, it's our goal. We like to think of it as our destiny. So it is not by chance or happenstance that these words of our texts appear in one of the most popular

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hymns used in the worship in the temple in Jerusalem in the long ago. It focuses upon what has become a dim yet glorious past on which we need to direct our attention. We have as the theme for Black Heritage Month the Afro-American experience, the international connection. Well it seems to me that temple

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worshippers in Jerusalem long ago were aware of the international connection when they sang these words, "Princes shall come out of Egypt, and Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God." Egypt and Ethiopia, oh they're mentioned many times in the Bible and this shows that in ancient times these two countries

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were very prominent in history. Look at this word Ethiopia. The Greeks have given us the word and it comes from two Greek words "ethios" which means "ethios" rather which means "burnt" and the OPS "ops" which means "face" so it means "burnt face." So they gave this name to the

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darker peoples because they said they had burnt faces because we lived closer to the Sun than European inhabitants and so the word or the name Ethiopia for burnt face, burnt faces. You know people of darker hue have been around a long long time and it's somewhat ironic that we should all that we must in some

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special way call attention to the achievements of black people. First of all when we consider this word, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." It's a word about the past. Ethiopia is associated with a glorious past related to black people. I've always been a little confused about history and I

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have been a lover of history but I've had somewhat a lover's quarrel with history because there was so many things that were achieved by people of color that weren't mentioned. When I was in school in the Dallas Public School System years ago we had in the curriculum what we call a course in

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Negro history and you could take that if you wanted to and so happened that I took it. But one of the first things I remember is that civilization began in the Nile and Euphrates rivers. Well that never dawned on me that when we talk about Egypt and in Ethiopia certainly we've talked about Ethiopian relationship

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to black people but it didn't dawn upon me that Egyptians were people of color to, but they are, and that was a very close relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt. In fact if you read Egyptian history, well if you just take the Nile River, the Nile River, that fertile area that was created because of the Nile as

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it makes its journey. It has its origin in Abyssinia, which is Ethiopia. So when we talk about where civilization began, it began with us, with Egypt and and with Ethiopia. And if we somehow recognize that, that this is where it began, it's not difficult for us to understand why when we read

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the scriptures that Egypt and Ethiopia appear so many times in Anksin history. Egypt and Ethiopia. Ethiopia another word for that is Cush the land of Cush because you see Cush was the son of Ham and Ham was one of the three sons of Noah and it was believed that black people had descended from Ham through

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Cush. The psalmist here refers to Ethiopia, the Ethiopia of ancient times, and in so doing he is referring to one of the most powerful and highly civilized nations on the face of the earth. In fact, there were times when there were black pharaohs of Egypt and there was a time when Ethiopia was the

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dominant nation. There were other times when Egypt was the dominant nation. In In fact, long before Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, there flourished a highly sophisticated system of education in Africa. So much so that the people from ancient Rome and Greece made the journey to Africa so that

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they could study, just as we've had scholars who've gone away to Germany and other places because they were considered seats of learning. So they came to Africa because Africa had developed a very highly sophisticated system of education.

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So that Plato, Alias, Pythagoras, all of these persons studied in Africa. And what Plutarch talks about it, what many of them did was to bring ideas which they had received in Africa and they passed them on.

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And somehow we sort of lost this because you see to a great extent history focuses upon the accomplishments of Western civilization. But here is a word that has an international connection because the psalmist recognized that as he worshipped God, as he embraced the great truth of the universe, that the time would come when even the most powerful and influential nations in the world, internationally speaking, would also join hands and Ethiopia would stretch forth her arms unto God.

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It's a word about a glorious past. So as we celebrate today our liberation struggle, we need to sort of tip our hats because we have a glorious past. It's also a word about Africa in connection with that. the Afro-American heritage. What is Africa to me? Copper sun, a scarlet sea,

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strong bronze men are regal black women from whose loins I sprang when the birds of Eden sang. As one three centuries removed from the land his father's love, Spicy Grove, a cinnamon tree, what is Africa to me? Well it's a part of a glorious heritage. A glorious heritage not just in which black people can take

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delight but a glorious heritage that has made a most significant contribution to world history. It's a word about the past. Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands to God. Princes shall come out of Egypt. It's a word also about the present. See there is a challenge that we face even today. As we celebrate the

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liberation struggle, it's a challenge for us to consider that the struggle is not over. We look at Africa today there are many problems. We are disturbed about the situation in South Africa, the liberation struggle there, seeking to throw off the yoke of colonialism, the evil of apartheid. We're concerned about

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that struggle. It's a challenge that we must not only have concern but what we must dedicate our efforts to seeking to alleviate it whatever is within our power whether it's to march whether it's to boycott or whatever other means may be available. It's a challenge. We look at Africa today Kenya has the highest

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population growth in the world at a four percent infant mortality rate in black Africa is 137 deaths to a thousand. It's still high, the highest in the world. We must do everything within our power because we share responsibility for all of the peoples of the world. If we would have freedom as long as any person is

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in bondage, then our freedom is in jeopardy. So we must continue the struggled, Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her arms unto God. You see the Afro-American experience is rich in history. Oh we've suffered the indignities of slavery, but in the midst of it all we've given to the world some of its

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rich music and the form of the black spiritual, form of jazz. We've enriched this nation by bravery on the battlefield, by contributions in every field of endeavor of significance. And then we've had a strong family life as we look at our situation today.

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Sure, we're troubled when we see such presentations as The Vanishing Family by Bill Moyers some few weeks ago about the problem of the disintegration of the black family. At the same time we recognize the fact that we've got to give some attention to how this started. I remember

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going to slave castles in Senegal and in West Africa where people of color were breeded like cattle, put in stalls, women here, men there, breeded like cattle, put on ships, and brought over to this country where that continued for several hundred years. In fact, I was reminded of a couple early, a

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a family that settled Austin early where there were several women and one man and this man was used to father several families. This was considered productive in connection with that. So while we we consider what gave rise, you don't get rid of that sort of thing overnight,

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but it's something that we've got to address here and now. To somehow recover our heritage that of the strong family, the family that was so strongly united that it has given us the concept of the extended family that it's ours as the people of God to

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dedicate ourselves to recovering that part of our glorious heritage. That's our task right now. So the struggle isn't over. It goes on and on. This is also a word about the future.

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Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. It's said that the Emperor Halas Elassie took a great deal of delight in this passage of scripture because it showed Ethiopia, the people of colors, connection

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with the orthodox faith. Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. It's a word about the future. It's a word of hope that things aren't the way

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we'd like for them to be now, but they're going to get better. That somehow those who unite themselves with the eternal, that that truth continues to march on.

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we go onward and upward. Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands unto God. So it's about a relationship. It's about a relationship that we have to ourselves.

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When they sang it in the temple in Jerusalem, it was a relationship with somehow the Jewish people saw as a kind of international connection, a relationship to the world community.

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And somehow today, we too must continue to recognize that we have a relationship to the world community as we engage in the struggle for all people. It's a word about tomorrow and this relationship.

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That the time will come when all of the nations of the world will be together and work together as God's people. And you know, our forefathers got a glimpse that long ago. Oh they were living in a dark, dark period, but they somehow had a dream of a while that would be better.

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And they envisioned the time when they sang, "I want to walk in Jerusalem just like John." I want to walk in Jerusalem just like John. And they not only described it, but they somehow recognize that they were a part of the ongoingness of history and they sang it in the form of another spiritual walk together children. Don't you get weary.

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You know it's interesting to me that when R.R. Taube wrote his study of history and he considered some 30 or more civilizations the rise and fall of all those civilizations. That when he summed it all up he said that that it may well be that the future hope of the world when it comes to the redemption of our world

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that it may come through that people that black people who have that humility that Du Bois talks about in his credo that will inherit the earth. And somehow he had a vision of a future in which we would play a prominent part. So our fathers were right

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when they sang "Walk together, children, walk together, children, and never tire." And they not only said "walk together" but "talk together" Somehow we must embrace all peoples, black and white, red and yellow, whatever the race or clan may be.

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Walk together, talk together, and shout together because there is a great camp meeting in the promised land. So we will somehow get where we are going. We'll somehow reach our goals in this upward struggle of humankind when we embrace the truth of God, that of love, of justice, and peace.

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And when that comes, it will truly be heaven. As we sing now, when we all get to heaven, we're going to extend the privilege of the church. The privilege to accept Jesus Christ as Lord of your life we invite you to come.

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We invite you to come. Invitation to accept Jesus Christ. The door is open. [ Music ] [MUSIC] ♪ In the night of night and the day ♪

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♪ We'll drink and the rest will play ♪ ♪ When we all get to heaven ♪ ♪ On a day of rejoicing and parade ♪ ♪ When we all see Jesus ♪

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♪ We'll sing and shout the rhythm to it ♪ ♪ While we walk the path of progress ♪ ♪ While we look to spread the light ♪ ♪ Our faith shall be made more noble ♪

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♪ Than the shadow of a star ♪ ♪ In the dawn of the new day ♪ ♪ For the day of the rising of the day ♪ ♪ If you're a citizen ♪

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♪ We'll sing a chocolate story ♪ ♪ That's what's in a true and faithful ♪ ♪ Trust in serving every day ♪ ♪ Just one little hand in hand ♪

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♪ All you need is one more life to play ♪ ♪ Long and forever ♪ ♪ Highly on his head, he shall prevail ♪ ♪ With the all-powerful God's great kingdom ♪

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♪ He'll sing and shout with the reigning ♪ ♪ Onward to the mighty heart ♪ ♪ Soon in beauty will he roam ♪ ♪ To the burning ancient golden ♪

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♪ We shall never cease to go ♪ ♪ We all get together ♪ ♪ For the earth shall be rising up again ♪ ♪ We all, we all, we all, we all ♪

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♪ We'll sing and shout for victory ♪ ♪ We all get together ♪ ♪ For the day of redemption is near ♪ ♪ To the army of Jesus ♪

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♪ We'll sing and shout for victory ♪ ♪ For the day of redemption is near ♪ ♪ For the day of redemption is near ♪ ♪ To the army of Jesus ♪

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♪ We'll sing and shout for victory ♪ [music] Amen, amen. It's been a wonderful day.

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We keep reaching for heaven. All of our struggles day by day. It'll be a grand and glorious experience when we all get there. Realize the fulfillment of our dreams. I'd like to

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recognize at this time Lydia Gardner who's a candidate for justice of the peace, Precinct 1, who's worshiping with us. Where is Sister Gardner? All right, would you just step out please and we'd like for you to just go one of the ushers will direct you to the rear of the

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of the Sanctuary here and we're going to join you where you have the opportunity of being with the pastor is and others as we greet guests you know is while we are celebrating the achievements of

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persons in our ranks. I just want to take a moment as we come to the close to recognize some of the authors in our church. Those who have written, you may not be aware of it, Brother Fitzpatrick, where's Brother Fitzpatrick? He's written a book of poetry. Has two books, isn't he?

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Two books of poetry and And, step out where they can see you there, Mother Fitzpatrick. And Dr. Wright has just written a book that was published just a few months ago, come off of press, "Life Behind the Veil." I've just received a copy of it, for which I'm grateful. Dr. Wright, would you stand? It has to do with the black experience,

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based on the state of Kentucky. And Sister Olive Durden Brown, would you stand? She has written a book on Houston Tillerson College

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And all available now other others who have written and published books here Would you stand if so far all right, brother Mays? What what is yours sir? All right, thank you very much

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So we'd like for you to join us as we come to the close of this service I would like for you to follow the directions of the ushers, those of you who are remaining for the liberation dinner, follow their directions in the seating, and I think that all will be carried out in a

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smooth manner if you will follow those directions. Let us all stand as we sing together the closing hymn "We Shall Overcome."

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[MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]

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[MUSIC] ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪

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♪ And the home of the brave ♪ ♪ We shall overcome ♪ ♪ We are the heroes of our time ♪ ♪ We are the heroes of our time ♪

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♪ We are the heroes of our time ♪ ♪ We are the heroes of our time ♪ ♪ We are the heroes of our time ♪ ♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪

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♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ ♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪

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♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪

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♪ In the land of the free ♪ (upbeat music) (audience applauding) God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far along

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way, Thou who hast by Thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray. Amen. [ Background noise ] [MUSIC PLAYING] [singing]

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