In Small Town USA, Little League opening day is always a major celebration with parades, ceremonies and speeches. When my son was growing up a highlight was always the benediction by the minister of my church in Darien CT– Rev. Ron Evans. I recently had the chance to ask Ron for a copy of the prayer and because it’s one of the loveliest things I’ve read about baseball, I thought I would share it now.
The Little League Prayer:
Almighty God, who made the earth in the shape of a ball so any and all might take joy in the playing of games, with great joy do we give Thee praise and cheers for all this and for the reason we gather on this sacred space today.
We ask Thy blessing on this sweet season of Spring and Summer sport.
Grateful are we for this grand celebration day, and all the days of games ahead on these fair fields and everywhere.
Thankful are we not only for these splendid facilities and special fields of dreams made into realities by the All Star efforts of so many to make this season possible for us; and we thank thee too for all who have worked to make our play not merely possible, but such a joy:
- Committees, Town Officers, Sponsors, Keepers of the grounds,
- Parents and Grandparents, Coaches, Refreshment Stand helpers,
- Loyal spectators and supporters, and, ye Lord, all Clear-Visioned Umpires too!
We ask Thy blessing on all of these, that what we do for fun may aid the wholesome growth of all, and that it contribute only in the highest aims of sport, that will make only good sports of us all too.
So, may every game this season be well played; every pitch a strike; every swing a solid hit; every catch and tag an out.
Just as every player here is always an All-Star in Thy loving and sleepless sight.
And after this, and every inning, round at bat, and rounding of the bases, O God, see each of us safely home to our friends and families now, and eventually in thee.
So to this let us all gratefully add, AMEN and PLAY BALL…
Really!!? 