A Prayer for an Inauguration: Speaking to the Soul for January 21, 2021

God of All Nations,
as a new day dawns,
we ask your blessing
on all the peoples
as we seek to live in unity,
amity,
equality,
and good-will with each other.

Holy One,
may we ever deepen the bonds of honor,
our ties of kinship,
our thirst for wisdom,
our devotion to integrity and truth.

Make us, O Great Creator,
a people who stand for freedom
tempered by responsibility;
who stand for independence
tempered by love for neighbor;
and who protect the least among us
that we be resolved to uphold
the cause of love
in service to community.

Help us form a more perfect union,
establish justice,
ensure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty
for all, now and in the future,
by carrying the light of truth and loving-kindness
that You, O God,
have planted within each of us.

Endow us, Holy One, with a double measure
of humility, kindness, and honesty
that we may examine ourselves
and hold ourselves to the highest standards of justice for all.

May we ever give you thanks,
O Shepherd of Our Souls,
and seek your guidance
as we seek the good road of faith, reason, and peace.
Send out your blessing, O God,
on all who call upon your name,
and grant your comfort and relief
to all for whom we pray.


Amen.

This was first posted at Episcopal Cafe's Speaking to the Soul, January 21, 2021.

Prayer 2918- Prayer for an Inauguration

God of All Nations,
we ask your blessing
on all the peoples
as we seek to live in unity,
amity, 

equality,
and good-will with each other.

Holy One,
may we ever deepen the bonds of honor,
our ties of kinship,
our thirst for wisdom,
our devotion to integrity and truth.
Make us, O Great Creator,
a people who stand for freedom
tempered by responsibility;
who stand for independence
tempered by love for neighbor;
and who protect the least among us
that we be resolved to the cause of love and community.

Help us form a more perfect union,
establish justice,
ensure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty
for all, now and in the future,
by carrying the light of truth and loving-kindness
that You, O God,
have planted within us.

May we ever give you thanks,
O Shepherd of Our Souls,
and seek your guidance
as we seek the good road of faith, reason, and peace.
Send out your blessing, O God,
on all who call upon your name,
and grant your comfort and relief
to all for whom we pray.


Amen.

Prayer 2917- Prayer for the Day Before the Inauguration

Most Merciful God,

You have been with us
thought the watches of the long night,
and given your angels charge over those who dream.

Grant us wisdom and courage
for the facing of this new day,
for overcoming all the chances and changes
that it may hold,
and to tighten our grip on hope
against the forces that seek to weaken our unity and faith.

Turn the hearts of the violent, O Prince of Peace,
or turn their ankles
so that we may know them by their limping.

May our song be a song of justice and faith
as we break the chains of heartlessness and greed.
Lead us into the higher ground, Blessed Jesus,
that lifts up community, honor, and humility
in seeking to serve each other in your name,
and deny those who seek to divide or seize power through fear.

For we are your children,
made to walk in the way of compassion, integrity, and reason,
called to reconciliation and healing.
May we love you more deeply.
May we make your instruction our guide.
May we be a blessing and a balm to a world in turmoil.

Holy One, anoint us with the oil of gladness,
and pour out a double portion of peace
upon all who call upon You as we pray.

Amen.