Leading the Senate in Prayer

The Constitution aside, every day before the Senate we are led in Christian prayer. Hank Webb is our Chaplain. He has a wonderful accent, warmth and gentle kindness which makes me smile every day.

Our Democratic leaders have asked that the prayers be more universal to all faiths and at very least ecumenical in nature, but it seems still that the Chaplain has been instructed to give a Christian prayer which ends with "In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord." While Chaplin Webb is gone this week, a few Senators have led the prayer. I was asked by my caucus to lead the invocation this morning. Those of you who know me may think that is funny. But how could I pass a chance to speak to the body of the Senate about values, belief, humanity and what we as a state should aspire to.

Please join me in a moment of reflection or prayer.

Let us be thankful for the kindness of strangers, their compassion and generosity.
Let us see abundance not only scarcity.
I ask, let us see in this difficult time the strength and beauty in one another’s eyes, the pain in the story of the man we would condemn, the suffering of the woman we would judge, never having walked in her broken shoes.
Let us love this land, its expanse of tilled soil, pungent, its farms aging, tilted sage-covered hills, canyoned deserts and peaks of cold granite and snow.
Let us love the beauty of its wild as those whose ancestors first set foot here loved and respected the land as the source of all life, food and spiritual strength.
Let us seek the difficult path of judgment to discern whether there is freedom without justice, liberty without restraint, whether the pursuit of happiness is afforded equally and we have been judicious in the exercise of the powers we are given.
For what great society can celebrate the freedom to amass riches while others starve?
What people would not extend the tithing and generosity of our faiths to the world at large?
What exalted leaders in good conscience can choose which brother or sister, son or daughter is worthy of justice and freedom from prejudicial acts --and which is not?
Let us look up from our day, as we as a nation and state face the difficult months or years ahead:
May we choose the path that helps those who will struggle in loss. 
May within us we find compassion and the generosity that makes us a nation strong enough to endure the greatest hardships as one, as a people who refuse to be divided by petty politics, generous and gentle, unified in purpose and in strength.
May we seek that all will prosper.
……..Peace be with you.

Comments

[Rob Miller]

What a tremendous invocation! Keep up the great work!

[Sally Neil]

That was beautiful, Nicole.

[MEA]

Great. I love that you gave the invocation.

[Cindy Gross]

I really like this!

[Steve Mercado]

Beautiful, passionate, and extremely impressive!

[Jamie]

This is wonderful!

[Tom von Alten]

It's nice to have the chaplain take a break and let others take a turn. Very nice invocation, Nicole.

I recently learned that a lot of people mean something different by "ecumenical" than was my usage (and yours, above?): rather than worldwide, general, relating to all churches, many in Christian churches use it to mean across the body of *Christian* churches.

I bring this up because the Chaplain may well feel he *is* being "ecumenical," and that ending his prayer with JCoL is the way that sort of thing is done.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenism

[sharon fisher]

I'm so glad they gave you the opportunity, and you did a wonderful job with it.

[Byron]

Nicole,I have read your reflection over and over today. I was struck by the clarity of your message,and the heartfelt candor of your final words, "May we seek that all may prosper." I read it again after driving home from the Frank Church Banquet tonight. Thanks for your powerful words.