On Saturday, August 29, 2026, Pastor Stephanie, Rev. Tori, and the members of National City were invited by the Texas State Society for this year’s birthday celebration in honor of our 36th President, Lyndon Baines Johnson. The event was at the LBJ Memorial Grove in Washington D.C. at the foot of the Johnson Memorial Monument. The event was attended by a diverse gathering of people including members of National City, the Johnson-Robb Family, members of the Texas State Society, students and alumni of the LBJ Washington Center, the LBJ Foundation, and those who loved our 36th President.
President Lyndon B.Johnson, was born on August 27, 1908, and this event takes place annually on a weekend near his birthday. This year President Johnson would have been 118 years old. President Johnson and his family worshiped at National City during his time as President of the United States. National City’s Dr. Davis offered pastoral care not only to the President during his administration, but to a grateful nation who saw unprecedented victories and devastating losses during that period. National City was also the host of President Johnson’s state funeral on January 25, 1973.
Pastor Stephanie, who was invited by the Texas State Society shared an invocation for the day’s event. She is always honored to connect to this part of National City’s incredible history. This was Pastor Stephanie’s fourth time being asked to pray for this special event. After the prayer, the morning’s event continued with a Navy Color Guard, guest speakers such as members of President Johnson’s family and Mike Naeve, Former Associate Director of the LBJ Foundation. Those gathered heard messages of President Johnson’s active and inclusive leadership as he championed legislation that sought racial equity and addressed social needs such as education and food insecurity for all Americans. Attendees were blessed with music including a solemn moment of Taps as the wreath, celebrating the life of President Johnson, was laid by his daughter and her grandchildren. It was a moment that connected all of us through our love of President Johnson and our care for each other. After the event, Pastor Stephanie connected with longtime National City friend, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, daughter of President Johnson. Mrs. Robb reminisced about her fathers love of our national church and the way his faith life helped shape our collective life together. She gave thanks for our ministries that continue to welcome and feed people in body and spirit such as our witness at Pride and our food pantry, two ministries close to the Johnson and Robb family. I hope you will join me in keeping Senator and Mrs. Robb and the whole Johnson family in our prayers.
Below is the prayer of invocation Pastor Stephanie shared at the event:
O Holy One, who gathers us in and calls us Your own, be with us this morning as we gather to remember, love, and continue in the legacy of your beloved servant, President Lyndon Baines Johnson. A man who knew all that you had given to him, used it to make us a better nation, and in turn asked all of us, how we can deepen the love we have for one another. Lord in that spirit of care and love for one another, and the deep knowledge that we need each other, we ask that you draw near.
Lord, imbue in us that same spirit of service that you poured into your beloved Lyndon. A spirit that when called to represent the people, by accepting the highest position of power in the land, knew to humble himself and continue to serve the least among us with dignity-giving care and a new vision of inclusivity for the American dream. We thank you for the work and call of our 36th President.
And Lord, we would be remiss in our faith if we did not name the ways your work with our President lives on. President Johnson called us to address the “crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice,” and he said, “we shall overcome.” Putting his faith in action, he then signed into law, ways for your children to just that- overcome, with the 1965 Voting Rights Act that we still take to the national mall to defend.
And so, Lord, help us lean into our part of that sacred call to overcome together. For we have the capacity and the faithful call to help, and the road to the community of care you hope for us was paved by the work you and President Johnson did for us and with you. And now, O God, it is work you are continuing with us. For as President Johnson said, “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” May we win tomorrow with loving care for one another and with liberty, and justice for all.
And finally, Lord, as you spread the spirit of loving-care and generosity amongst all of us gathered, with the same abundance you gave President Johnson, we ask that you be with and bless those that made our gathering today possible. The Texas State Society including Stacy and Dylan, whose vision for today helps keeps the President’s service as a Texan and as an American in the collective memory of the people, The LBJ Foundation including Mike Naeve, who helps sustain the President’s legacy in the hearts of the people he continues to serve, The Johnson Family who continue to live into the honorable name and legacy of their loved one, the US Navy Color Guard and the US Army Band for their service to country and for sharing their talents with us today, to National City Christian Church who with Dr. Davis, helped pastor a President and thus pastor a nation. And Lord, be with all of us here, regardless of our relationship to you, or if we call you or know you by another name. Bless all of us gathered here today with care for one another, care for your creation, and continued care for President Lyndon Baines Johnson, his memory, his legacy, and his sustaining vision for the Great Society of America who loves all her children and all of yours too.
For our history and future together, in the name of Jesus the Christ I pray, Amen.