Who We Are

Dear God, the source of all we desire and all we need, we thank you for the great gift of our democracy, the great of our government: we pray for our leaders, that you would grant them all the wisdom and courage and strength they need to govern for the good of all your people. May they honor the public trust they have been given, that divisions may be healed, and that forbearance, respect, and unity would grow. And, together, may we become yet more fully that city upon a hill that we have for so long desired to be, for our own sake, and for the sake of all the nations of the earth. In the name of God we pray. Amen

We come together this week, as the members of our General Assembly gather, across the way, for a new session, to do the business of the people of our Commonwealth; and we come together this week as our nation continues to mourn and to pray over the events of last Saturday, in Tuscon, Arizona; as we continue to pray for all those effected, for those recovering, and for those grieving.

When Congresswoman Giffords was attacked she was, of course, doing the most essential thing that public servants do: she was meeting the people; she was listening to the people; she was asking the people what they need. And the others gathered there, with her, were doing their part, as well, in the essential practice of democracy.

The events of this week underscore for us the precious nature of human life, as well as the precious nature of democracy. Indeed, next to life itself, surely one of the very greatest gifts that we have been given, as Americans, is the gift of democratic government: government of the people, for the people, and by the people.

Today we join together to pray for that democracy, for our democracy, for our Republic; for peace and for justice; and, indeed, we come together to pray for all people, for all God's children, praying for justice and peace around the world.