Eternal God, we come to You with thanks and praise for the women to be honored here this afternoon.
These are women, our women, women of California whose accomplishments have reached from the vastness of the cosmos, to the mysteries of the human brain and into the tiniest of our cells. They have kindled our imagination on the stage, on the screen and in the classroom. They have represented us as elected officials, they have organized and administered, they have studied and they have judged, they have served and they have led. They have changed the world.
And with their bravery they have broken the glass ceiling. They have shattered the glass ceiling and have scattered shards of promise colored glass to sparkle upon all women whose dreams are yet to be fulfilled.
We thank You for all they are and all they have meant to so many. We thank Ms. Wyman and Ms. Davis, Dr. Garcia and Ms. Dunning, Dr. Arnold and Judge Todd, Congresswoman Burke and Dr. Rogers, Ms. Butler and Ms. Trosper for what they have meant to all the women who journey alone along unfamiliar paths.
And in the same breath we thank all of those women whose courage and strength remain unseen. They have sat down so we could stand up. They have spoken when we remained silent. They have acted when we were paralyzed by a world which was not ready to welcome our gifts.
Continue to bless them in all they are and all they do even as we cherish their gifts which have enriched their communities, our great state and the nation we call our own.
In Your holy name we pray.-AMEN.
