Image: Cove Creek Commissioner John Grisham
presides over the Opening Ceremonies
Saturday was Opening Ceremonies at Cove Creek Baseball Park. This is our family's tenth year of playing ball at Cove Creek and my fourth year coaching the Rookie League Hot Rods. Last season was a "re-building year," but this season we've started off strong winning our first two games. I was asked to do the opening prayer (it is a private park and we can still do this). Here's the text:
Gracious and loving God,
Today we can say with the Psalmist, “the heavens declare the
glory of God” and the firmament shows forth his handiwork (Psalm 19:1).
As we stand on the threshold of a new season of baseball here
at Cove Creek, we bring you thanksgiving for the past and ask your blessing for
the future.
We thank you for providing the benefactors, administrators,
and officials whose generosity, hard work, and guidance have made this place
possible.
We thank you for the coaches and parents for their
instruction and support. Help us to
encourage excellence in competition without being overbearing or unkind. Make us to be circumspect in our criticism
and liberal in our praise.
And today we especially thank you for these young athletes, for
their readiness, enthusiasm, and excitement for this new season. We ask that you would watch over their
physical safety. Help them to honor
their parents, their elders, and all those in positions of rightful authority by
being respectful and considerate. Help
them to strive for excellence in proportion to their abilities, to be fair in
competition, generous in victory, and noble in defeat.
Help us, as the apostle Paul taught, to do all to your glory.
And teach us to follow the timeless rule given by Jesus: Do unto others as you would have them do unto
you.
We ask all
this in Christ’s name, Amen.
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