15th Annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour Opening Prayer

Clergy are sometimes asked to pray at non-religious community events. I composed and prayed this opening Prayer at the 15^th Annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour, Wheeling, WV,  May 30, 2022 

Great God, by whatever name we call upon you,
however we know you,
we thank you for the opportunity to cycle on our local rail trails, streets, and roads.
As we cycle this Memorial Day,
in the 15^th Annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour,
keep our rims true, our tires strong,
our chains lubed, our gears aligned,
and the wind always out our backs.
Keep us safe from accident or incident,
and without any of us suffering harm,
return us back here to Heritage Port later today
with 100 kilometers, 30 miles, 10 miles, or whatever
under our wheels.
As we cycle this Memorial Day holiday,
may we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,
and with their lives paid the price for our freedom,
including the freedom to gather here today
to cycle for fun, for exercise,
and to support local trails and the Ohio Valley Trail Partners.
And let all the cyclists and people say, Amen.

The Reverend Dr. John Edward Harris,
Pastor, Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church, 
Wheeling (Bethlehem), WV