Collects for our country (Independence Day)

We went to Matins this Fourth of July morning. Last Sunday I told Fr. Daniel we'd not make it because we were to walk a parade out in the town of Carnation* with one of the three local candidates to our state legislature we're supporting, but as it turned out the parade started late enough that we could celebrate Matins with plenty of time after to travel to AND get ready for the parade.

I was in terrible voice this morning: wheezing, gasping and choking over what feels like an old bug returned, and not sure I was even going to make it through the service. I did though, including the Morning Canticles, Benedictus es, Domine (Hymnal 742) and (I think) the Jubilate Deo (Hymnal 745), as well as the appointed Psalms and the all four verses of the closing hymn, #141 (1940 Hymnal).

But I was slightly surprised to hear two collects for the country. It's been a long days since Matins but I think one was For Our Country, p.36, and the other... forgotten.

* I mentioned the small town called Carnation; Fr. Daniel hasn't made it out there yet. When Carnation milk became famous across the country, the town named "Tolt" adopted the name of the nearby headquarters Carnation dairy farm. Today the Carnation organization is owned by giant Nestle, the herds of cows are long gone, the farm no longer a working dairy farm, but Carnation retains its name -- a little piece of local Americana and no better place to be on the 4th of July. (Except that due to our very long summer days the fireworks start late.)