Opening Prayer for the New York State Legislature

Last Wednesday, January 3, I had the joyful opportunity to offer the prayer opening the New York State Senate’s first session of the legislative year.  I am grateful to Senator John Flanagan, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Senator Jeff Klein for their warm welcome and hospitality.  Here’s the prayer I offered.

Opening Prayer for the New York State Legislature

January 3, 2018

Let Us Pray:

We assemble for this historic event, Lord, yes, as grateful citizens of a state we are proud to call home, but also as humble people of faith who simply yet sincerely confess as Americans, In God we Trust!

 Thus do we acclaim you as our creator who made us in your own image and likeness, thus rendering the human person and human life as sacred, endowing us with rights calling for protection, and with freedom not so much to do whatever we want, but what we ought.

We profess you as our common Father who unites us; a lawgiver who has implanted within us a grasp of the truth, a thirst for justice, and a belief that we are at our best when our will is consonant with your own.

To these distinguished legislators we ask the gift of the wisdom only you can bestow, a reclaiming of the honor and nobility of public service and a sensitivity to those in need.  Please illumine in a radiant way our leaders, Senator John Flanagan, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Senator Jeff Klein.

You never summon us to a duty without supplying us the grace to do it.  That blessed assurance consoles us.

May all we do, dream, and decide here, Lord, be only to our credit when we one day stand before you, the omnipotent lawgiver and supreme judge.

You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.