The Serenity Prayer
Reinhold Niebuhr was author of this prayer.
Since its inception in 1943,
The prayer itself has had an interesting history
It was hijacked in Germany,
The country where Niebuhr’s parents were born
Before settling in the United States
Niebuhr’s life was as a preacher, writer, professor,
And ambassador to European countries
Especially Germany and England
He interacted with the World Council of Churches
And shared his thoughts on ecumenical ventures
Of various denominations – Episcopalian, Methodist,
Congregationalist, Reformed, and Evangelical
Lutherans
For 40 years Niebuhr was a pastor, and professor
At the Union Theological Seminary in New York
He ruffled feathers with his opposition to American
neutrality
During World War Ⅱ, beliefs in racial equality,
And his outreach to the poor in the ghettos
Niebuhr was a guest on panels, was welcomed
internationally
On the lecture circuit, known for his correspondence
With Church leaders, and lived to see Europe
liberated
The serenity prayer captured life’s vicissitudes
By how Niebuhr responded to the challenges of his
era
“Loving God, you have blessed mankind with the kind
spirit of Reinhold Niebuhr. Grant that
his legacy will live on as we utter the serenity prayer known worldwide through
the Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meetings, and its many renditions on postcards,
placemats, and souvenirs.”
Amen
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