Praise to the One whose love stirs the ancient embers,

And sparks the breath to prayer.

Praise to the One whose love entices the wandering,

And beckons the confused.

Praise to the One whose love grows wings on the weary,

Dreams hope in the discouraged.

Praise to the One whose love dips deeply into diversity,

Pours forth boundless beauty.

All praise to this Gracious One.

All gratitude to this Beloved.

All devotion to this Shaper of Hearts.—AMEN.

_{(Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections for Every Season by Joyce Rupp)}

Today we pray the “Prayer of St. Francis” for peace in our world and for peace in our hearts:

Lord, make us instruments of Your peace:

where there is hatred, let us sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.—AMEN.

Holy Fire at the heart of all reality, warm our human hearts with the energies of passion and compassion.

Illuminate our minds with the truth of our temporary and mortal state.

And give us a hint of enlightenment about the purpose of our existence.

Illuminate for us the world with all its awesome wonders, so that we may go about our life wisely and [creatively], ready to reject illusions, ready to accept facts, however harsh, grateful for the honor of being [present to] it all.

Give us enough wisdom to cope with the gift of this astonishing life itself.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

_{(We Side with the Morning by William Cleary)}

Heart of Love, source of all kindness, teacher of the ways of goodness, You are hidden in the pockets of daily life, waiting to be discovered.

Heart of Comfort, sheltering wings of love, refuge for sad and lonely ones, You embrace all who bear loss, gathering our tears with care.

Heart of Understanding, one who gazes upon the imperfect, the incomplete, the flawed, the weak, You never stop extending mercy.

Heart of Deepest Peace, resting place at the core of our being, You are waiting always for our return to this sacred home.—AMEN.

_{(“Heart of Love” in Out of the Ordinary by Joyce Rupp)}

O God in whom we hope, we ask You to bless our efforts to bring leadership, justice, and ongoing solutions to the challenges of these days.

Give us the strength to accomplish the seemingly impossible with limited time, energy, and resources.

Help us to be especially sensitive to the needs of those on the margins, those whose losses have brought them close to despair.

May all that we do today lend credence to the words of Harvey Milk that “hope will never be silent.”

And so, Gracious God, we continue to hope in Your providence, and in our ability to engender hope in our communities by our collaboration for the common good.—AMEN.

In her poem, “A Brave and Startling Truth,” Maya Angelou tells us a startling truth about ourselves as humans: that we have the ability to create peace and freedom for all.

We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe

Who daily reach for the bomb, the blade and the dagger

Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace

Out of such chaos, of such contradiction

We learn that we are neither devils nor divines.

And when we come to it

We, this people, on this wayward, floating body…

Have the power to fashion for this Earth

A climate where every man and every woman

Can live freely without sanctimonious piety

Without crippling fear.

And when we come to it

We must confess that we are the possible

We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world

That is when, and only when

We come to it.

So, Gracious God, give us the courage to trust in our ability to create peace, and may we all take the steps necessary to achieve it.—AMEN.

_{(“A Brave and Startling Truth” by Maya Angelou)} 

Today we pray a prayer of Rabbi Harold Kushner:

Loving Creator, let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges…

Let the rain wash away the memory of the hurt, the neglect.

Let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows.

Let the warmth of the sun heal us wherever we are broken.

Let it burn away the fog so that we can see each other clearly—

So that we can see beyond labels, beyond accents, gender, or skin color…

Let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see all people as our neighbors.

Let the Earth, nourished by rain, bring forth flowers to surround us with beauty.

And let the mountains teach our hearts to reach upward to heaven.—AMEN.

Grant us wisdom, discernment, and integrity as we make important decisions for California. Inspire us to serve people with humility and to seek justice and mercy in all our actions. Give us strength, peace, and the support of each other as we lead.—AMEN.

Almighty God, Who has gifted us this day… we will rejoice and be glad in it. We are so grateful for this monumental moment to celebrate the first Latina to serve as the 50th Senate President pro Tempore in the fourth largest economy in the world, California’s own, Monique Limón.

We pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to encompass the Pro Tem’s leadership as she navigates this house of the California Senate to address the critical pressing needs of all Californians. Provide the strength and fortitude to stand in the midst of hostile environments. Render compassion and care to give ear to those who wrestle to afford the necessities of life from day to day. Let humility and empathy be the motivation to lift California as a global leader to a world searching for answers for a better quality of life.

May we adopt Your design that differences are simply the beauty of one body, that if  You are no respecter of persons, then we too should regard all as equal (where liberty and justice is for all) and that if Your desire is that none be left out, then we too should desire that all be included.

Bestow a special blessing upon this “one of a kind” leader to maximize her abilities to garner the powers of the House of the California Senate to facilitate a positive impact upon every household of those residing in the great State of California. For that, we give You all the glory, honor, and praise… and may we all say “Amen.”

As we continue to ease into the work of this new year, Brendan Kennelly invites us to begin again:

Begin again to the summoning of the birds

to the sight of the light at the window,

begin to the roar of morning traffic

all along N Street.

Every beginning is a promise

born in light and dying in dark

determination and exaltation of springtime

flowering the way to work.

Begin to the pageant of queuing constituents

the arrogant loneliness of crowds downtown

bridges linking the past and the future

old friends passing through with us still….

Though we live in a world that dreams of ending

that always seems about to give in

something that will not acknowledge conclusion

insists that we forever begin.

_{(The Essential Brendan Kennelly)}

Loving God, You fill all things with a fullness and a hope that we can never comprehend.

Thank You for leading us into a time where true spirituality involves seeing beyond our limited selves to find God in everything. We pray that You will take away our natural temptation for cynicism, denial, fear, and despair. Help us have the courage to awaken to greater truth, greater humility, and greater care for one another. May we place our hope in what matters and what lasts, trusting in Your eternal presence and love. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healings of our suffering world. Knowing, gracious God, that You are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names attributed to You.—AMEN.

_{(Richard Rohr)}

Loving God of mercy and justice, as we celebrate the birthday of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are reminded more than ever of his words to us:

We are tied together in the single garment of destiny,

caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.

And whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

_{(“Letter from Birmingham Jail”)}

Mysterious God, we pray for a greater understanding of our interdependence on one another.

May we refuse to believe that we are unable to influence the events which surround us.

May we refuse to believe that we are so bound to racism and war, that justice and peace are impossible.

And through Your goodness at work within each of us, may we reach out with healing hands to those we serve.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

Make us an instrument of peace:

where there is hatred, let us sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant us that we may not so much seek to be consoled but to console,

to be understood as to understand,

and to be loved as to love others.

For it is in giving that we receive, and

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.—AMEN.

God of all creation, You call each of us to evolve, to recognize that You hold all that is in Your loving embrace. May we see the entire sweep of history as Your self-communication that calls us to awaken to who we are in You—and who You are in us. In the mutual embrace we share, may we together hold the entire cosmos, each and every person, each and every creature, in a way that nurtures and sustains and calls forth the gifts that are given for all. May each of us participate fully in a personal evolution that transforms us and transforms the world.—AMEN.

God of the past, present, and future, You have told us through our sacred scriptures that You have called us by our name (Isaiah 43:1); You hold our tears in a flask (Psalm 56:8); and that our lives are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29).

Grant us the grace to value all persons for their presence, their gifts, their contributions to the ongoing evolution of our civilizations.

Banish from our hearts all fear, prejudice, arrogance, and all that would prevent us from appreciating the beauty of all You have created.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to be here and for the people who trusted us with this responsibility.

We ask for Your guidance today—to lead with wisdom, to speak with honesty, and to act with humility.

When we disagree, give us grace. When the decisions are hard, give us courage. Help us never forget that our work here touches real people, real families, and real communities across California.

Keep our hearts grounded in service, not ego, and remind us that how we represent others truly matters. We place this day and this work in Your hands.—AMEN.

O extraordinary God, You reveal Yourself in such ordinary ways. We pray to be more mindful of You in our daily lives.

God of wonders, give us the eyes of children to respond with delight to the newness and freshness of each moment.

God of life, open our eyes to Your presence in the faces of those whom we meet today.

God of truth, teach us to recognize Your voice in all the events of our day.

God of peace, show us the way to serenity in the midst of confusion and division.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

And today we will pray from Psalm 25:

To You, O Lord, we lift up our souls.

In You, O our God, we have trusted…

O Lord, make known to us Your ways.

Teach us Your paths.

Guide us in the way of Your truth and teach us,

for You are the God of our salvation.

We have hoped in You all day long.

Remember Your compassion, O God, and Your gracious love,

for they are from of old.

Do not remember our transgressions,

and in Your gracious love remember us

because of Your goodness, O God.—AMEN.

God of all peoples and nations, we thank You for the work of this week, which has enabled us to bring hope and consolation to those we are called to serve. We pray for our country and world: may constructive dialogue help us overcome cynicism and distrust. We pray that collaboration and mutual respect among nations and peoples will replace exploitation and destructive competition. We pray that human ingenuity will benefit the whole human family. And we pray that concern for the common good will continue to be a value in this chamber as we aim to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with You, our God.—AMEN.

_{(Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy)}

The Book of Proverbs (4:23) says:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything else flows from it.

Creator God, give us a heart like Yours that inspires us

to love without reservation,

to step out in courageous service to one another,

and never to dig up in doubt what we have planted in faith.

Fortify us with Your grace

to speak kindly,

to keep our actions on the upswing,

and to refuse to allow any discouragement to infiltrate our spirits.

Let Your light shine through the cracks and the splinters of our less-than-perfect portions of our hearts; may we forgive ourselves, our imperfections, and in response, return needed compassionate forgiveness to others.—AMEN.

_{(Prayer of Auburn Mercy Associates)}

In anticipation of Presidents' Day, I have chosen a prayer from the book, The Prayers That Shaped America. It’s a prayer from the inaugural address of George H.W. Bush, January 20, 1989.

He says: “My first act as president is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads.” And so pray:

Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to hear and heed Your will. And write on our hearts these words, “Use power to help people”…. There is just one use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord.

The Lord our God be with us as He was with our [ancestors]. May God not leave us or forsake us, so that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways… that all peoples of the Earth may know that the Lord is God, there is no other.—AMEN.

_{(Dr. Chuck Harding and Pastor T. Michael Creed)}

This past weekend in many parts of the world, people celebrated Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse.

May this New Year carry us forward with unshakable courage. Like the horse that runs freely across open fields, may we break through barriers, overcome challenges, and race toward our dreams with confidence and grace.

May the energy of the horse bring abundance to our work, joy to our families, and smoothness to our paths. Let each move we make be guided by wisdom, kindness, and the hope of a brighter future for all.

We ask this in the name of all that is Holy.—AMEN.

Almighty God, whose mercy is everlasting, whose grace is sufficient, and whose love is unconditional. Grant us wisdom as we deliberate the issues before us. Open our minds for better understanding and our hearts for a passion to serve those who look toward us for solutions to their challenges and difficulties. Grant the foresight needed to adequately plan for the unexpected and the will to be responsible stewards over what we have been blessed with. Be the lamp to our feet and light to our path as we navigate our way through the present and into the future.—AMEN.

Today we pray for all including ourselves experiencing struggles personally, professionally, and in the world. May we have the strength to persevere through all the difficulties and injustices that life brings and have the wisdom to move forward.

In the words of Frederick Douglass in New York back on August 3^rd, 1857:

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

For those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are the people who want crops without plowing up the ground;

They want rain without thunder and lightning;

They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.

This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it is a struggle.

_{(“West India Emancipation” by Frederick Douglass)}

Gracious God, may all that we do be done in truth. We pray for the fortitude never to abandon our struggles and our work, to uphold the dignity and rights of all our brothers and sisters. We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

God of affection, Creator, Great Spirit, You that abides in the Universe and in each of us, You that imparts devotion and tenderness, we thank You for the myriad ways that we hope to and recognize that we are touched by Your love:

Love that draws us to friendship and fidelity;

to kindness and compassion;

that lures us to the sacred and to the serene;

that calls upon us to see a new vision 

and evolution and to live it each day;

Love that sees the value of each human being.

We come to You for many stories, many faiths, and many perspectives. We see You and recognize You in the diversity of ways, all beautiful, all according to Your plan. Help us to see You in one another every day, especially as we seek to make our world a better place and hold us in the mystery and beauty of Your presence.—AMEN.

Today we pray that our dreams for peace and justice may be realized, as expressed in Langston Hughes’ poem, “I Dream a World”:

I dream a world where man

No other [one] will scorn,

Where love will bless the Earth

And peace its paths adorn.

I dream a world where all

Will know sweet freedom’s way,

Where greed no longer saps the soul

Nor avarice blights our day.

A world I dream where black or white,

Whatever race you be,

Will share the bounties of the Earth

And every [one] is free,

Where wretchedness will hang its head

And joy, like a pearl,

Attends the needs of humankind—

Of such I dream, my world!

Spirit of Abundance, God of Grace, may we continue to widen our vision so that together we may bring our world closer to harmony and peace, communion and solidarity. We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

Today we pray that our dreams for peace and justice may be realized, as expressed in Langston Hughes’ poem, “I Dream a World”:

I dream a world where man

No other [one] will scorn,

Where love will bless the Earth

And peace its paths adorn.

I dream a world where all

Will know sweet freedom’s way,

Where greed no longer saps the soul

Nor avarice blights our day.

A world I dream where black or white,

Whatever race you be,

Will share the bounties of the Earth

And every [one] is free,

Where wretchedness will hang its head

And joy, like a pearl,

Attends the needs of humankind—

Of such I dream, my world!

Spirit of Abundance, God of Grace, may we continue to widen our vision so that together we may bring our world closer to harmony and peace, communion and solidarity. We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

Gracious and merciful God, today we ask for perseverance through the pains of our lives and a broad vision to help us transform our sufferings into new life for the benefit of others. The poet Wendell Berry invites us to have such a vision. He says:

If we will have the wisdom to survive,

to stand like slow-growing trees on a ruined place, 

renewing, enriching it…

then a long time after we are dead the lives our lives prepare will live

here, their houses strongly placed upon the valley sides,

fields and gardens rich in the windows.

The river will run clear, as we never knew it, and over it, birdsong like a canopy….

Families will be singing in the fields.

They will take nothing from the ground they will not return….

Whatever the grief at parting.

Memory… will spread over it like a song.

The abundance of this place, the songs of its people and its birds,

will be health and wisdom and indwelling light.

This is no paradisal dream.

Its hardship is its possibility.—AMEN.

_{(“A Vision” in The Selected Poems of Wendell Berry)}

Gracious and merciful God, yesterday, on March 8, International Women’s Day was celebrated, having been officially recognized by the UN in 1977. We pray for the women of the world who must overcome fear with courage in so many aspects of their lives. Rosa Parks once said:

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

And speaking of courage, Jan Richardson says:

I cannot say where [courage] lives,

only that it comes to the heart that is open,

to the heart that asks,

to the heart that does not turn away.

When courage arrives, it might surprise us

by how quiet it is,

how it moves with such grace 

for possessing such power….

We will recognize it by how still our fear becomes

as it loosens its grip,

perhaps never quite leaving,

but calmly turning into joy

as we enter the life that is finally our own.

_{(“Blessing of Courage” by Jan Richardson)}

So Gracious God, thank You for all the women who have inspired us to greater courage in our lives, and we ask Your blessing on those who are still consumed by fear due to unjust structures.—AMEN.

We pray in gratitude for the diversity of ways that humans have responded to the mystery of life through our various religions and declarations of faith.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel says:

“No religion is an island. We are all involved with one another.”

_{(No Religion is an Island by Abraham Heschel)}

So Gracious God of our understanding and experience, may our interfaith journeys help us to be in solidarity in the pursuit of what is right and just.

May we learn the art of true dialogue wherein we listen to each other and grow in love and understanding.

May we find common ground in our shared commitment to support the afflicted and oppressed of our world.

And may our devotion to service be an expression of our faith in the goodness of humanity and in the great goodness of You, our God.

We echo the words of Mary McLeod Bethune when she says:

“Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without it, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.”

And so Gracious God, help us to believe that it is possible to grow in interfaith harmony in ways that are creative, inventive, loving, kind, and compassionate. We ask this in Your many names.—AMEN.

_{(Adapted from The Interfaith Peace Project by Thomas P. Bonacci C.P.)}

Heavenly Father, Today we honor the California State Senate Women of the Year… but we also honor women everywhere. 

We know, Father God, that women play an integral role in advancing Your kingdom and influencing the world around us.

These incredible women we honor today are courageous—some put on a uniform… wear a badge… and protect the communities we serve with unwavering dedication.

Some are women veterans who have bravely chosen to serve and defend our great nation…. With valor and distinction.

We honor our Olympic athletes who represent the United States in rigorous competition around the world, displaying excellence and perseverance.

We celebrate educators who invest tirelessly in the generations of leaders to come; lawyers, PhDs and scientists… and those with judicial authority and wisdom…. We honor nonprofit leaders and founders of organizations that serve the underserved and create educational opportunities for higher education—lifting up students who show leadership and a heart of service to others… yet face barriers beyond their reach.

Lord, exceedingly and abundantly bless each one of these women as they continue the work in the areas that you have  placed on their hearts—a passion to make our world a better place, reflecting Your love and justice.

In Scripture, we are reminded of the strength, dignity, and enduring courage of such women in Proverbs 31: 

“She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future…. She always speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction.”

May these women we are honoring today embody this timeless truth—clothed in Your strength, speaking in wisdom… as they lead, serve, and inspire others for greatness. 

Exceedingly and abundantly bless each one of these women as they continue to do the work that you have placed in their heart to do.

Guide them, protect them, and multiply their influence for good.—AMEN.

As we adjourn today in memory of former President pro Tem John Burton, we pray in gratitude for his life and legacy.

Creator God, we bless and affirm the dedication of Mr. Burton to living a life of radical hospitality as he worked to create a space of belonging for all.

His life was a healing balm to those in need and a challenging voice to those needing to implement change.

As we remember the blessings of his life, may we continue to live with fidelity to the ideals of our call.

May we meet the challenges of each day with enthusiasm and hope.

And may those we serve experience the fruits of our commitment to the common good.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

Gracious and merciful God, since 1993, World Water Day has been celebrated on March 22^nd. This year, the theme “Water and Gender,” explains how water access affects gender equality.

We pray for all women and girls who are mostly responsible for collecting water each day in many parts of the world, walking long distances to accomplish the task.

We lament this burden that keeps girls out of school and limits their opportunities to contribute to the betterment of their societies.

We pray to be aware that as climate change leads to scarcity of water in countries already experiencing droughts, women and girls experience more domestic violence because of their inability to find sufficient water.

Merciful God, give us guidance on how to be better stewards of this finite resource on which all our lives depend. Open our eyes to the urgency for governments and civil society to work for sustainable and affordable solutions to the world water crisis.

We ask all of this in Your name.—AMEN.

God of life, the world feels fragile right now.

War spreads. Fear grows. Many hearts are heavy with grief.

Hold us steady in this moment.

Help us remember that love still matters—

That compassion still matters—

That the work of tending life still matters.

Give us courage to keep planting seeds of goodness—

in our communities, in our relationships, in the fragile future we cannot yet see.

Let fear not shrink our hearts.

Gracious God, teach us to live with faithfulness in uncertain times.—AMEN.

As we spin on our beautiful planet Earth, we pray in the words of E.E. Cummings: 

I thank You God for most this amazing

day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth

day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay

great happening illimitably Earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any—human merely being

doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened).—AMEN.

Gracious and merciful God, we pray for Your power to be gentle;

the strength to be forgiving;

the patience to be understanding;

and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding on to what we trust to be right.

Please lead us. May we know the power of good and the power of love to create a new world where fear and selfishness no longer lead people to commit injustice or bring suffering to others.

We pray for vision to see and faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence.

Help us to devote our energy to the task of making peace and inspiring all to contribute their gifts for the preservation of humanity.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

As we bring ourselves into awareness of God’s presence today, we pray for all who still long to experience God’s heart of mercy:

For all who suffer and struggle alone—may they receive healing and support;

For all who experience injustice and persecution—may they receive strength and courage;

For all who grieve and mourn—may they receive comfort and peace.

God of love and mercy, all of the days of our lives are in Your hands. Help us to know Your presence in each unfolding event; Your active, enabling grace in every circumstance; and Your enduring call to follow You each day with courage and gratitude.—AMEN.

“Let us pray today for nonviolent hearts. The thing about nonviolence is that it spreads. When you get people to participate in nonviolent action… people are learning from that action.”

_{(Dolores Huerta)}

Gracious and merciful God of our past and of our present, help us to continue to learn from the nonviolent actions of our predecessors, who stretched beyond their comfort zones to remind us of the interconnectedness of all beings on this fragile planet. May our legislators and all those in positions of leadership persevere in efforts of respectful dialogue, so that the gifts and talents of all can be shared in peace and harmony for the common good. May we grow in awareness of the violence of some of our words as we listen to those who have long been silenced. We trust in Your continued inspiration that we may operate from hearts of compassion and fairness in Your name.—AMEN.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, AMEN. As we gather to offer our prayers for the Senate session today, we remember the 111^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. For our prayers, we honor the memory of the canonized saints of the Armenian Genocide. May the Lord receive their souls of our martyrs, whose lives were taken unjustly, yet whose memories endure with strength and clarity. 

Today, on the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we honor the memory of the Armenian Genocide—the first genocide of the twentieth century.

Today, we remember, we pray for the souls of the martyrs, whose lives were taken unjustly, yet whose memories endures with strength and clarity.

We pray for the children and grandchildren of the survivors, who carried forward the burden of memory with courage and faith.

And at this moment we also pray for all victims of injustice in every corner of the world today—that they may find protection, dignity, and peace.

May the Almighty Lord grant wisdom and patience to our leaders, so that they may continue to uphold truth and defend human dignity.

And may we all find guidance He guides us always on the path of justice, compassion, and peace.

May God bless your, beautiful the State of California, and the United States of America.—AMEN.

As we rejoice in the recent views of Earth from the moon and as we celebrated the 56th year of Earth Day yesterday, let us remember the significance of our place in the universe as we pray a poem by Mercy Sister, Renee Yann called “All Creation”:

Gracious and loving God, help us to remember that

All Creation kneels,

a Single Being,

to praise [You].

From its immense heart,

[creation] sings myriad songs at once,

Morning and Evensong,

Praise and Dirge,

Alas and Alleluia,

intermingled.

It sings even over its own scars,

where the chasms cry out for balm.

It sings both the remembrance

and the hope of blessing.

It sings the endurance of faith

and the confidence of love.

In roar and silence, darkness and light,

Creation kneels,

a Single Being,

to praise [You, O] God.—AMEN.

In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis says: “The Earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor…We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the Earth.”

(Genesis 2:7)

Compassionate God, You created the world for all of us to share,

a world of beauty and plenty.

Create in us a desire to live simply,

so that our lives may reflect Your generosity.

Creator God, You gave us responsibility for the Earth,

a world of riches and delight.

Create in us a desire to live sustainably,

so that those who follow after us

may enjoy the fruits of Your creation.

God of justice and peace, You give us the capacity to change,

to bring about a world that mirrors Your wisdom.

Create in us a desire to act in solidarity with all creation,

so that all life is set free to flourish.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

(School Sisters of Notre Dame)

If we utter the word mercy,

standing, each of us, by an open window

anywhere we are in the world,

then the word mercy will carry on the soundwaves

outwards and unceasing,

through the air of the wounded world.

And maybe, when it takes flight

into deed and kindness, justice and effort,

it will effect a healing, a hope, and a blessing.

It may call the homeless home,

it may coax to hope the betrayed and broken,

it may ease the burdened Earth.

Listen for it….

Listen for its neighborly dialects and global idiom.

Imagine those who, like you, are saying it aloud,

and those who need to hear it, today….

One word, one deed of justice, one kind effort at a time.

Gracious God, give us the courage to say and be mercy today.—AMEN.

_{(“Mercy Day” by Mary Wickham, RSM)}

In the 15th century, the Venerable Sor Juana de la Cruz said: “I don’t study to know more, but to ignore less.”

Gracious and merciful God, today we thank You that today’s Latino Spirit Awardees have not ignored the needs of Your people but have used their education and knowledge to build up their communities and contribute to bringing justice and peace to our world.

May they continue to discover creative and daring ways to encourage thriving communities.

May they continue to witness the values of generosity and collaboration for the benefit of all.

May their struggles be occasions of growth and transformation offering hope to our suffering world.

Loving God, may the efforts of our Latino Spirit Awardees bring them peace and joy as they celebrate the diversity of their talents and the wonder and mystery of our common humanity. 

Dear God, we ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

For expanding grandeur of Creation, we give thanks this day.

For the fragile planet, our planet Earth, we give thanks this day.

For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, we give thanks.

For our human community, our oneness transcending all separation, we give thanks this day.

And we pray for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared.

We pray for all who labor and suffer for a fairer world.

We pray that we live, not by fears, but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds. Also let us pray for our mothers and our grandmothers on this Mother’s Day.—AMEN.

_{(Reverend O. Eugene Pickett, Unitarian Universalist)}

God of all peoples and nations, as we recognize May as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we pray in gratitude for the rich historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of AAPI descent to the United States and to California in particular.

We pray for those who persevered through generations of xenophobia, racism, bias, and violence to contribute their skills and talents in the areas of science and medicine, literature and art, infrastructure, government and law.

We pray for those who continue today recognizing their power in unity, enriching the diversity of this land, and working together in a spirit of partnership and collaboration for the common good. We echo the words of Margaret Cho: “The power of visibility can never be underestimated.”

We pray in Your name, gracious God.—AMEN.

Gracious God, in this world of so many messages, we often feel overwhelmed.

Sometimes we barely hear Your voice amid the clamor of each day’s discouraging news.

In what can seem like unrelenting struggle, we strain to feel Your peace.

Help us each day to pay attention:

to notice which words, pictures, and attitudes are forming us—

to use our ears to hear You, our eyes to see You, and our voices to speak Your love.

Grant us the courage to challenge falsehood,

to distinguish honesty from hypocrisy,

to see goodness where it lives,

and to overcome world-weariness and despair with our unrelenting commitment to the common good.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

Good afternoon everybody. I’m Rabbi Shoshana Nambi from Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, California, and I’m truly honored to be here with all of you today and offer this invocation on behalf of the Jewish community of California. Thank you so much to Senator Becker, my fellow congregant, for inviting me.

Mazal tov to the honorees, and Happy Jewish American Heritage Month to everybody.

As a Jew who came to America not long ago from Uganda, I am especially very grateful to be part of this milestone, of the First Jewish American celebration hosted here at the State Legislature.

When we reach a meaningful moment such as this one of joy or gratitude, a moment of a new blessing, we say a prayer called the Shehecheyanu.

I am going to invite everybody, if you know the words, to say the prayer with me.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.

We all know it takes persistence, advocacy, and active hope, to arrive to a moment like this and say, “Thank you.” We are here.

This is my prayer for this month, for this state, for the world, and for everyone in this room:

May we continue to celebrate each other, what we have built together, and what we  continue to build together.

As the rabbis of the old remind us: we may not complete the work, but neither are we free to abandon it. This commitment to the hard work of tikkun olam, repairing the world has been passed from hand to hand has been passed from hand to hand, generation to generation, and now to us and we take it on gracefully. Together we say.—AMEN.

Loving and ever-present God, when it seemed there was no hope, we have seen Your light in the eyes of a child.

When it seemed there was no joy, we have heard Your delight in the voice of a friend.

When life seemed stale, we have smelled the freshness of sunlight on our skin.

When all seemed empty, we have touched Your presence in the hand of a stranger.

When the future seemed barren, we have tasted life’s moisture on the lips of another.

We thank You, O God, for Your embodied love.

Open our senses to Your presence that we may care for You in all things.—AMEN.

Make us an instrument of peace:

where there is disagreement, let us sow love;

where there is misunderstanding, let us sow pardon;

where there is doubt, let us sow faith;

where there is despair, let us sow hope;

where there is darkness, let us sow light;

where there is sadness, let us sow joy.

For it is in giving that we receive, and

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.—AMEN.

Gracious and merciful God, on this Memorial Day weekend, we remember all who have died in the service of our country, whose hearts and hopes are known to You alone.

Comfort those who grieve the loss of loved ones and let Your healing be the hope in their hearts. 

Hear our prayer of gratitude for those who put the welfare of others ahead of their own and give us hearts as generous as theirs. 

Help us to shape a world where we will turn our swords into ploughshares for a harvest of justice and peace. 

You who created us, You who sustain us, You who call us to live in peace, hear our prayer this day.—AMEN. 

(Austin Fleming)

Gracious and loving God, as we come to You in prayer on this day, may we be open and responsive to Your spirit.

As we go about the business of our lives, may we see Your goodness in each person we serve.

As we strive to be persons of peace in moments of conflict, we pray for an end to war, peace for all nations, and search for the guiding presence of Your truth.

As we enjoy the successes of our collaborative efforts, may we know the value of patience and kindness.

And as we continue the work of this Legislature, may our hearts be filled with goodness and thanksgiving.

We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

_{(Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy)}

The following short prayer is by Mary Oliver. It is called the “Song of the Builders”:

On the summer morning I sat down on a hillside

to think about God—a worthy pastime.

Near me, I saw a single cricket;

it was moving the grains of the hillside

this way and that way.

How great was its energy, how humble its effort.

Let us hope this will always be like this,

each of us going on

in our inexplicable ways

building the universe.

_{(“Song of the Builders” in Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver)}

Creator of Mystery and Wonder, grant that this day we may go about our work with the humble effort of the cricket and the joy of being human. We ask this in Your name.—AMEN.

God of all peoples and nations, help us remember that we are in constant development.

Let us enter lovingly into the merits of each person we meet.

Let what calls us to action be motives of admiration… and reverential regard everywhere in our environment.

In culture, may we promote Liberty;

In politics, may we promote Equality;

In economics, may we promote Service to Others;

In family and community, may we promote Inclusivity and Love.—AMEN.

_{(“An Everyday Prayer” by Kaitlyn Teague Lundergan)}

Creator God, Source of Life and Wisdom, we receive June’s arrival: Daylight stretching, fields of flowers turning toward the sun, communities gathering in celebration, with June marking pride, remembrance, and hope.

Poet Audre Lorde wrote, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

May her insight accompany us today.

May we recognize that as every person we serve carries a story we do not fully know.

May we remember that disagreement need not diminish dignity or beauty.

May we find the courage to approach what we learn from one another.

May we choose curiosity.

Where there is fragmentation, may we become the waymakers of community.

May this chamber in this new season be guided not only by what is politically possible, but by what is worthy of the people whose lives are touched by its work.

And may we leave this day, this time, and this season transformed willingly.

Enter June into our hearts.

Shalom, May it be so, and Amen.