The Word and the Song: Goodness and Mercy (Psalm 23) Featuring America the Beautiful

THE WORD AND THE SONG with Pastor Michael B. Coats of New Covenant Methodist Church, Cumberland, MD
“Goodness and Mercy” (Psalm 23) Featuring “America the Beautiful” 9/13/2025

Please forgive my mispronunciation of Shanksville, PA (one of the places grievously impacted on 9/11/2001) – Pastor Michael

Psalm 23 (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

America The Beautiful (Materna)
Verse 1
O beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain
America America God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea
Verse 2
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness
America America God mend thine ev'ry flaw
Confirm thy soul in self control
Thy liberty in law
Verse 3
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life
America America may God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And ev'ry gain divine

CCLI Song # 33368. Katharine Lee Bates | Samuel Augustus Ward. © Words & Music: Public Domain