Now Thank We All Our God

Thanksgiving will be celebrated early here, this year. A clear majority in both the ECV and the popular vote for President Bush will make it difficult for sKerry and his ilk to pull an Algore. Aside from a disappointing loss by Pete Coors in Colorado, substantial gains in both the House and Senate for the President's party will mean an opportunity to be a uniter... from a position of strength (wanna throw some tantrums? Go sit in the corner for a time out... :-) So, here's my signoff for this long election night: Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever-joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us; and keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given, the Son, and Holy Ghost, supreme in highest heaven, the one eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore; for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore. Words: Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), 1636 trans. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), 1858 (And if you don't think we ought to be singing that song full bore, consider what Martin Rinkert was thankful for during the 30 Years' War... )