O Great and Merciful God, Each day the Senate is in session we begin with holy words, a prayer to You and a pledge of allegiance to our country.
With a prayer we remind ourselves that to serve others is a sacred task, and with our pledge we affirm our devotion to our country and our obligation to protect and preserve it.
Ten years ago we were left without adequate words as we watched in horror as our nation was attacked. But we found solace in prayer and we recommited ourselves to the service and protection of our country. On that tragic day we did not think of our differences, we were not
Democrats or Republicans, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Bhuddists or Hindus. Through that terrible tragedy we came together, in unity,as Americans.
On this day, we stand before You in remembrance of those who were killed. We stand together as brothers and sisters, praying for your help in repairing a world that was shattered, we ask for healing and for guidance.
We ask you to protect our country and all who dwell here, but most of all, we ask for peace.
May this be God’s will.—AMEN.
Prayer by Fr. Michael F. Kiernan
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacramento
O God Of Love, Compassion, and Healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions,
who gather here today to remember the incredible violence and pain on September 11, 2001.
We ask you in your goodness to give eternal light and peace
to all who died on that day:
The heroic first-responders— The fire fighters, police officers, emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel; along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy simply because of their work or service.
We ask you, in your compassion, to bring healing to those
who, because of their very presence on that day,
suffer from injuries and illness. JOURNAL 2377
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with courage and hope.
God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women, and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred. God of understanding, we are overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy, and we seek your light and guidance as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that the lives lost may not have been lost in vain. Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope, and give us the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.
O Almighty and merciful God, You cannot be understood by one who sows discord. You cannot be accepted by one who loves violence. Look upon our painful human condition tried by cruel acts of terror and death.
Comfort your children and open our hearts to hope, so that our time may again know days of serenity and peace.—AMEN.
Prayer offered by
Imam Mohamed Abdul Azeez
Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims
Dear God! You are my lord, there is no god but You. Upon You I depend, and You are the lord of the greatest throne.
Whatever God wills will be, and whatever He wills not, will never be.
There is no power nor strength without God, the most high, the greatest. I believe that God is capable of verything, and that his knowledge encompasses everything! Dear God! I seek refuge in You from the evil of my soul, and from the
evil of every creation that is under Your sway. Verily, my Lord is on the most righteous path!
Dear God, with humble hearts and submitting souls, we ask of you With gratitude to all of your blessings, we ask of you With full appreciation to all of your bounties, we ask of you
We ask you on this blessed day to bring humility, strength and understanding to the hearts of our brothers and isters who have been elected to be the trustees of our great state, to guide their decisions, to strengthen their backs, and to increase their resolve to serve.
We ask you to alleviate our pain, to allay our fears and to console our hearts. We ask you to bring our state, and our nation out of hardship, and to fill our hearts with hope of a better tomorrow.
Prayer offered by
Ranjeet Singh
Sikh Temple of West Sacramento
Having first remembered God the Almighty, think of Guru Nanak. The Tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh Jee, father of the Khalsa who has blessed us with the gift of Amrit—may we enjoy his protection everywhere. Turn your thoughts, O Khalsa, to the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib and call
on God Wonderful Lord!
Almighty God, we humbly request you to keep all men and women who have laid their lives to protect freedom and peace since 9/11 till today the tenth anniversary please keep them in your glorious feet and protect them forever and comfort their families
“Nanak Naam charhdee kala. Tere bhaaney sarbat da bhala”.
(O Nanak, may the Name be ever in ascendance! In Your will may the good of all prevail!)
Prayer offered by
The Very Rev. Dr. Brian Baker
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
As we remember this week the horror of evil inflicted, towers falling, lives crushed and tears shed, help us, Oh Lord, to never forget the heroism, the open-hearted sacrifice of the police, fire-fighters and ordinary citizens who took no heed of their own safety when others were in danger, And give us the grace, we pray to live into their example as we strive for reconciliation and peace, as we seek to be agents of your love, in this
war-torn world.—AMEN.
