Let`s pray. Father, I thank you at times like this that we recognize how much you mean to us, and how much we need you. And, Lord, I thank you for Dave. I thank you for his life. I thank you that most of all he loved you, and by loving you most, he loved his family, he loved his job, and he loved our state and our great country. And, Lord, I would pray that his legacy would continue to impact all the members of the Senate here. Lord, I pray for his family right now. I just pray for Maggie, and Cathleen and Margo and Matt and Sarah and John and their kids, grandkids. And, Lord, in the absence that they feel right now in their dad, may you fill that vacuum with your presence and may they sense your power and peace in a special way. And may each one here realize that as long we`re alive, the impact that Dave`s had on our lives, will impact the rest of our lives. And may we do that for your glory. I would pray, that when we look at life and we look at death, you help us to see that light is only purposeful if we know you. I think of the great Commandment that says, love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and all your mind, and of the second commandment which says love your neighbor as yourself and by loving you most we will love each other all the more. So, Lord, help us do what we do, out of love for you, and obedience to you, and then as a result, may we have an impact as senators, as husbands, as wives, as children, as grandchildren. May we be thankful for your blessings on our lives in the great country in which we live. We ask these things in your name.-AMEN.

In the 1930`s, there was a young man who applied for a position as a Morse Code operator. When he arrived for the interview, he entered a large, noisy office. In the background a telegraph clacked away. He read a sign on the receptionist`s counter that instructed all applicants to wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office. This young man sat down with the other waiting applicants. After a few minutes the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door to the inner office, and went right in. The other applicants sat outside muttering to themselves that they hadn`t heard any summons. Within minutes the young man emerged from the inner office escorted by the interviewer, who announced to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has been filled by this young man." The other applicants were angered, and one said: "Wait a minute-I don`t understand. He was the last one to come in, and we never even got the chance to be interviewed." To which the employer responded, "All the time you`ve been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: `If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.` None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. So the job is his."
We are all called to do deep listening, particularly in these Senate chambers. But more importantly, we are called to do deep listening with the "still small voice" that is in each of us.
Let us pray:
God of Grace, We pray for our California Senate. May they listen to each other and to your still, small voice that will give them direction to make the best decisions that will benefit each Californian today.-AMEN.

I find the following words to be to be a challenging reminder:
To look at the world through cynicism or rigidity or partisanship creates endless barriers.
To look at the world through hope and love and interdependence creates unlimited possibilities.
Please pray with me.
Holy Mystery beyond our knowing...
Help us to look at the world through hope and love and interdependence.
--Not to be unrealistic or naïve or foolish about the challenges and difficulties in our own lives or our state or the world,
--But neither to become incapacitated by cynicism or rigidity or partisanship. May we have love and hope that are grounded and honest, realistic and clear-headed.
May love and hope move us beyond the small circle of our own needs and insecurities and agendas
Into a much bigger circle where we can hear the dreams and visions and aspirations of those who may have very different backgrounds and perspectives than we do.
And with love and hope and interdependence,
may we approach our responsibilities to lead this state
not as Republicans or Democrats, not as liberals or conservatives,
but as CITIZENS elected to serve the people in order create a good and fair and just state for all Californians.
In your Iovin snirit we nr Amen

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Many of us will take the time to honor and acknowledge the mother’s in our lives who have influenced us, nurtured us, and inspired us.

Golda Meir was more than the Prime Minister of her country, she was also a mother and grandmother. And these wise words she offered sound more like advice she would have given to her children than to her constituents, wise sentiments that echo what many of us have heard from our own mothers. She said:

“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.”

May the Holy One of Blessing help us find the sparks of possibility that dwell in each of us. May we have the self awareness to recognize them, and may these sparks illuminate our life so that we might find true happiness. May this be God’s will--AMEN.
 

I invite you to turn your attention now to that one Creative Source known to us by so many names: God, Elohim, Allah, The Atman!Brahman Presence, Sacred Grandmother Tree. Let us be blessed in the knowledge that the creativity that flows from our Universal Source through each member of this senate is in full measure this day. May God’s street names: Wisdom, Harmony, Creativity, and Peace fill your minds today so that this Senate is led by a vision and not pushed by circumstances. Amen

Loving God of us all we come into your presence with hope and anticipation that we will see the best in each other today. Help us never to say no to an opportunity even if it is something that does not seem at first to be what we wanted to do. May we work as hard as we can. May we never give up on being kind. May we care about something greater than ourselves. May we learn to share with others around us. May we be resolute and cordial.
Solomon who knew the art of good governance once said “Hold to sound judgment and to prudence, do not let them out of your sight, they will prove the life of your soul, an ornament around your neck. You will go your way in safety. Your feet will not stumble. God will be your guarantor.” In the fiscal crisis which is on everyone’s mind, with all the checks and balances in California governance that weigh us down, help us to take off our ideological glasses which prevent us from seeing the obvious but cast out solutions. Deliver us from going around the mazes of our own constructions and take us instead into the freedom of decision making. Guide us so that our feet do not stumble, that we may take the state of California forward with the integrity that will allow God to be our guarantor. For in God we trust and in God we are not dismayed. Amen
 

Holy and gracious God, we give thanks for the people of this state who have put their trust in this government and in the leaders in this chamber. Give to our lawmakers the strength to bear the burdens before them; instill within them the courage to make difficult choices; fill them with patience to work together especially when it is seems impossible; and grant them the heart to make decisions that are just and right for all those who dwell in this blessed land. AMEN

Holy and gracious God, be with our governor and lawmakers as they confront the issues that perplex them; give to them clarity in vision, creativity in thought, and openness to listening. Give to all of these leaders here gathered patience and forebearance with each other, and the courage to act not in their own self-interest, but for the good of all your people in our state and nation--Amen.

The late President John F. Kennedy said,
“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men [and women] who can dream of things that never were.”
On May 25, 1961, Kennedy declared the intention of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth within the decade. Of course, we know this was accomplished. The remarkable thing about Kennedy’s declaration is that at this time the science and the technology did not yet exist to do such a thing. At the time it was impossible.
Impossibility is a disguise worn by great opportunity. Insoluble problems bring forward the necessary tension, disturbance and confusion that launch our inherent creativity.
I know that the women and men in this room today hold the key to great opportunity.
I know that God, the infinitely creative Spirit, is present and active, and available.
May God work in your hearts today to bring forth from your wisdom, purpose and resolve, a new dream of what can be for our beloved California and its people.
And so it is. Amen

Let’s take a moment, before settling in to the work at hand, to reflect on what has called you to your work in government. To reflect on what has called you to assume the sacred trust of representing the people of this state, protecting their rights, liberties and well being. And I invite you to consider that in this calling to serve, you have followed the urging of God — in the way of your spiritual tradition — and that this power and presence is with you now.
I know that God is everywhere present, living in us and through us, extending opportunity and compassion by our hands to the people we serve. I know that we also live, move and have our being in that Great Spirit, the Life of our lives. And because of this, today we have the strength, wisdom and humility to govern from the purity of our own hearts.
I affirm the great resilience of our state, our people and our leaders. The good we intend to accomplish through our work is already complete in the mind of God, and therefore our work now is to continue to follow the guidance that brought us to this life of service.
Thank you God for each citizen of this state; may their daily lives be uplifted today as we engage our work on their behalf. Thank you God for the rich beauty of this state; may we use its resources wisely, so it is preserved for our posterity. Thank you God for the privilege of leading and serving, and for guiding our hearts and actions; may we always remember the sacred trust we have been given.
I release this prayer, and know it is done. And so it is. Amen

Come Holy Spirit,
Replace the tension within us with a holy relaxation.
Replace the turbulence within us with a sacred calm.
Replace the anxiety within us with a quiet confidence.
Replace the fear within us with a strong faith.
Replace the bitterness within us with the sweetness of grace.
Replace the coldness within us with a loving warmth.
Replace the night within us with your day.
Replace the winter within us with your spring.
Straighten our crookedness.
Fill our emptiness.
Dull the edge of our pride.
Sharpen the edge of our humility.
Light the fires of our love.
Quench the flames of our lust.
Let us see ourselves as you see us,
That we may see you as you have promised,
And be fortunate according to your word.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
(Prayer of St. Richard to the Holy Spirit)
 

In 1864, in a letter to a group that disagreed with his course of action, President Lincoln responded to them by writing: “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.”
What Lincoln referred to as a friend “down inside himself,” the Prophet Elijah would have known as the “still small voice” - others might call it our conscience, or moral compass.
But by whatever name we call it, at the end of the day each of us will have to take an accounting of all our actions and of all our words, and face ourselves and our Maker for all that we have done while on this earth.
We pray to the Holy One that our words and deeds to be found worthy of our highest aspirations, and that we be remembered for having acted with honor and integrity. May this be God’s will. Amen

Good afternoon Senators and Guests. We give thanks for this New Year and new opportunities to serve in this world God loves so much. My message today is simple-it is that I hope you sense in a very deep way your call to service as California legislators. I`m not just talking about the call of those who voted for you-you already know that calling is so much deeper than that. Calling involves a responsibility for the hopes and dreams of all the people in your charge. And calling, as I have come to understand it, comes from God, who is good, and wants the best of you and me, for the sake of all people. Martin Luther called this the theology of vocation, which underlies all human affairs and all we do in life.
In this, you are not alone, for all of us here in California are called to this work too, as citizens. For you see, a calling is not just for those of us with clerical collars wrapped around our necks (or some other easily recognizable religious garb). And a calling is not just for you who take an oath to public office (as crucially important as your work will be). For all are called in tangible ways to be of service to our neighbor, and especially to those around us in need. Our work, each of us, in our specific circumstances, is to hear and respond to that call, as best we are able.
So let us pray: God of all things (including human affairs). Bless and keep these our servants, your servants, who we have elected to govern our State. Give them wisdom, courage, discernment, and an awareness that they are not the only ones being called-for you call all of us into service. We especially hear your call to us for those who lack voice to call-those who are poor and most vulnerable in our midst. In whatever way you choose, call us to this new day.-AMEN.

There is a saying that the U.S. Military Academy cadets have that should also apply to those engaged in public service. They say: “Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.”
If we follow this advice there are two things that are likely to happen, first we are likely to achieve greater success in our endeavors, and secondly, we will become personally invigorated from having dared to be passionate about what we do.
May the Holy One grant us the ability to be fearless in our dreams of what is possible, caring and compassionate in the actions that we take, and bold in our expectations of what can be accomplished. May this be God’s will. Amen.
 

No stranger to conflict or pressure, either on the battlefield or in the political arena, President John F. Kennedy observed that “great crises produce great men, and great deeds of courage.”
Our country came into existence and then flourished because of ordinary men and women who in times of crises found within themselves the ability to perform great deeds of courage.
We are living through a time of extraordinary crises and the people of our state look towards those who lead us to find the greatness within themselves to act with courage and creativity, and to lead us forward into a more hopeful and prosperous future.
We pray to the Holy One to grant each of us the ability to draw upon our faith and strength of character to address the task at hand with strong hearts and open minds. May the Holy One strengthen our resolve as we go forward, and may future generations remember this one for it’s bold ideas and wise solutions. May this be God’s will. Amen.
 

The great 20th century writer and theologian, C.S. Lewis taught that “courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” It is easy to hold a belief as a theoretical matter. But each of us have moments in our lives when we might pay a price for our values or our beliefs. It is at that moment that courage comes into play. We display courage when we are not afraid to hold onto our principles and our values, even when it comes at a personal cost.

May the Holy One bless us with the ability to act with the conviction of our beliefs, and the courage to stay true to the values we hold dear. May this be God’s will--AMEN.

It is written in the book of Genesis that "When God began to create the heaven and earth, the earth was unformed and void." (Gen. 1:1) This teaches us that when faced with the chaos of Creation, rather than tackling everything all at once, God simply took things one day at a time. Each day the Holy One sorted out a different problem, and each day created new things that did not exist the day before.

When faced with daunting tasks, we would do well to remember this lesson. Each day offers the promise of new opportunities, and the possibility of creating order from chaos.

May the Holy One, the Creator of us all, grant us the ability to see our world anew each day, may the Holy One fill our hearts with hope and optimism, and may the Holy One bless all of our worthy endeavors.

May this God`s will-AMEN

President Theodore Roosevelt spent much of his life in service to our country. He was a man who understood big ideas and real problems. He once advised graduating high school students with these sage words: “Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground.”

Whether we are students heading out in the world, or are already well seasoned, this is good advice. Success in our personal life, in work, and in government all require a balance between idealism and practicality, generosity and skepticism. If we err too far on one side or the other we risk our ability to be effective.

May the Holy One bless us we seek ways to serve our State. May we be
granted wisdom and compassion, and the ability to find practical
solutions for difficult problems.

May this be God’s will--AMEN.

We pray to the Holy One, the Source of hope and inspiration, to bring us together at this difficult time so that we might work with a spirit of cooperation and for the good of all people. May it be Your will, our Rock and our Redeemer, to guide us forward on a just and compassionate path. May You bless our leaders with wisdom and understanding, may You bless the citizens of this great state with fortitude and perseverance, and may it be Your will to once again bless our state with prosperity and promise.

May this be God`s will.-AMEN.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. once observed that “the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven,” he said, “we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.”
Inertia and apathy does get a person to heaven’s gates, action does. It is not enough to have beliefs, one must work to make our ideals a reality, to constantly move forward and never be satisfied with the status quo, to always believe more can be done.
May the Holy One guide us with direction and inspiration so that we might move forward with a noble sense of purpose in our work and in our lives.
May this be God’s will. AMEN.
 

American novelist Henry James was once saying goodbye to his nephew Billy ... with words that Billy never forgot:

"There are three things that are important in life. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind."

Writer Frederick Buechner comments about that:

"BE KIND ... because although kindness is not by a long shot the same thing as holiness, kindness is one of the doors that holiness enters the world through, enters us through".

And then Buechner writes: "and not just gently kind, but sometimes FIERCELY KIND."

My prayer for all of us is this:

Loving God of all creation, remind us now to be kind ... and sometimes fiercely kind. May we have a fierce passion ... for justice and equality and fairness and equal opportunity and peace ...

... a passion to work on behalf of all your children who live in this state ... ... a passion to make responsible decisions ...

... a passion to do what is right, and not just what is politically expedient. May we be FIERCELY KIND ...

AND ... and ... may we also be gently kind.

Keep us sensitive to the hurt that is all around us, even among those with whom we may have strong disagreements. May we treat all with dignity and respect, even as we do the difficult work of seeking compromise on tough issues.

With a firece gentlenessa, help us to serve you as we serve the people of this state.

In your loving... and kind... and fierce spirit we pray.--AMEN
 

Good morning.

I would like to start this day with a question: What is possible?

So often we dwell on the things that make what we want impossible. And from that mental atmosphere of impossibility, trying to move or shift obstacles embodies the futility of Sisyphus. Focusing on obstacles only reinforces them.

So . . . what IS possible? This is a question that often gets scoffed at precisely because it doesn`t take into account the obstacles. It forces us to look for space between obstacles, to look for new resources, to test different directions, to be open to anything other than what we think we know.

Voltaire said, "No problem can stand the assault of sustained thinking." The thinking he is speaking of is not a stolid certainty of having the only answer. It is the thinking of collaboration, humility, and creativity. It is the thinking that comes out of continuing to ask what is possible.

God is a God of possibility. Let`s allow this energy and spirit of possibility to work in us, and move us forward together.

God is the spirit of unity, of oneness, and is everywhere present. This means He is present in this room this morning, and in each person in this room. It lives in us, through us, and as us. All we need do is open to this great source of creativity within, which can and will inspire you to find our way.

God, our prayer this morning is simple: work in us. For we know that with God all things are possible.

God bless you. God bless California.

And so it is.-AMEN.

This weekend the nation celebrated our 233rd birthday. The American dream was set in motion, the freedom seed was planted into the fertile soil of this young nation’s soul.
Langston Hughes, the brilliant American poet and author wrote a poem called "Freedoms Plow" which offered hope that even though this great experiment called American Democracy was not perfect yet, it was in process. Let me share just a few lines from Freedoms Plow.

America is a dream.
The poet says it was promises.
The people say it is promises-that will come true.
The people do not always say things out loud,
Nor write them down on paper.
The people often hold
Great thoughts in their deepest hearts
And sometimes only blunderingly express them,
Haltingly and stumblingly say them
And faultingly put them into practice.
The people do not always understand each other,
But there is, somewhere there,
Always the trying to understand,
And the trying to say,
“You are a man. Together we are building our land.”

America!
Land created in common.
Dream nourished in common.
Keep your hand on the plow! Hold on!
If the house is not yet finished,
Don`t be discouraged builder!
If the fight is not yet won,
Do not be weary, soldier!
The plan and pattern is here,
Woven from the beginning
Into the warp and woof of America!

My dear brothers and sisters, entrusted with the good will of those who elected you, we believe in you, and pray that you will be guided to rebuild trust and bring order back to the great State of California.

May the God of Order and Peace be with each of you chosen to guide the destiny of our great state`s citizens and industry. May the God of Wisdom and Understanding imbue you with the humility to listen to reason, and the courage to act in the best interest for all concerned. May you work in harmony with one another, as you blaze a new road to a bright future for all our people. We have faith in you and ask this in the name and through the power of All that is Good, Sacred and Holy.

Om Shanti, Shalom, Salam, Peace.
 

Colleagues, staff, and guests, let us pray.

Dear Lord, As we gather here today, less that 10 hours after we last departed this hall, we are all somewhat weary, and perhaps disheartened by the magnitude of the problems that appear to confront us. But as serious as these challenges may seem, we should consider that our forefathers endured far worse. Let us today reflect upon, even vigilantly heed, the words of a great fallen leader, who, during one of our country`s most trying times, invoked your holy name, when he said:

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in."

(Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, Saturday, March 4, 1865)

Lord, We pray that we may today strive on anew, thankful for the many blessings we share, and with confident hope in your guiding hand upon our deliberations.-AMEN.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, as Moses concludes his lengthy list of instructions to the Israelites on how to establish a just society, he says: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse, therefore, choose life!” (Deut. 30:19)
We are taught that we, as individuals and as a society, hold life’s blessings and curses in our own hands. We know right from wrong, good from evil, compassion from indifference. Laws, whether religious or secular, are given to create a good and just world. To choose life means living according to a moral code in our personal and our public affairs, to choose life means to live a life filled with meaning and purpose.
May the Holy One guide us as we engage in our daily tasks, opening our hearts to the goodness in this world, helping us to see what is right and just, and guiding us to live lives filled with blessings. May this be God’s will. AMEN.
 

The British novelist, Joseph Conrad, wrote: “For life to be large and full, it must contain the care of the past and of the future in every passing moment of the present. Our daily work must be done to the glory of the dead, and for the good of those who come after.”

To be engaged in public service, is to be engaged in work that is larger than oneself. When one’s work is to serve the community, we should be ever conscious of the fact that we are caretakers of the blessings we have inherited from the generations that come before us, just as we hold the well being of future generations in our hands.

We pray to the Holy One, the Creator of all humanity, to grant us the ability to act in a way that gives honor to our ancestors while creating a firm foundation for those that come after us. May this be God’s will--AMEN.
 

This summer the California Museum is celebrating the 200th birthday of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. In these days where civility seems so often to be lacking in our public discourse, we have much to learn from President Lincoln, who even during our most acrimonious times was dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to our nation.
In an address on October 16, 1854, President Lincoln said: ". . . let all Americans-let all lovers of liberty everywhere-join in the great and good work. If we do this," he said, "we shall not only have saved the Union; but we shall have so saved it, as to make, and to keep it, forever worthy of the saving. We shall have saved it, that the succeeding millions of free happy people, the world over, shall rise up, and call us blessed, to the latest generations."
We pray to the Creator of us all that we might act in such a way that we will be remembered as not just lovers of liberty, but defenders of it. May our tongues be guided with kindness and wisdom. May our hearts and minds be open to beliefs different than our own. And may the work we do now be remembered until the last generation as a blessing.
May this be God`s will.-AMEN.

This September 9th will mark the 160th anniversary of California becoming a State. But long before we joined the Union, this land attracted dreamers and explorers, people who strove to make real their visions of a better future.

In the Book of Proverbs we are taught that "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Prov. 29:18). Throughout the last 160 years our state has been a beacon of hope and opportunity because we have been blessed by men and women whose energy, passion, and imagination have kept us on the frontier and the cutting edge, of not only what is possible, but also what was thought to be inconceivable to many, until we made it so.

The full verse from Proverbs teaches "Where there is no vision, the people perish, but happy is he who keeps the law." Vision and law making should go hand in hand. A people depends on the lawgivers to be inspired by the well-being of us all and we depend on your ability to see a future that encourages possibility and opportunity.

May the Creator of us all grant us the ability to act with vision and insight. May we find inspiration from within as we work to create a just society for us all. May this be God`s will.-AMEN.

As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt taught us, certain dates live on in infamy because of the horrible events that occur on them. Those who inflicted pain on our country on September 11, 2001 attempted to strike at the very heart of who we are, they sought to tear us apart. But instead, much about our nation’s character was revealed that day. We saw courage and compassion, patriotism and selflessness in action.
Let us take time today to remember and acknowledge those who suffered and those who perished on that day, and because of what happened on that day. And as we remember them, let us commit ourselves anew to the service of our nation, and the highest ideals for which it stands.
May the Holy One bless our nation with peace, and may our actions ensure that our nation forever be a beacon of liberty and justice, freedom and hope for all the world. May this be God’s will.--AMEN.

“What is life’s heaviest burden?” asked a youth of a sad and lonely old man. “To have nothing to carry,” he answered. (E. Scott O’Conner)
To care for others, to carry their concerns with our own, is not one of life’s burdens, but a privilege. To stand separate and apart from the community, to carry none of the load in our arms, or in our hearts, is to carry the greatest burden of all. To participate in both the struggles and celebrations of others is to live a life of meaning.
May the Holy One grant us the ability to see our burdens as blessings, our responsibilities as the source of our strength, and our work as meaningful. May this be God’s will. Amen.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: “God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose. Take which you please - you can never have both.”

The pursuit of knowledge and a quiet conscience cannot co-exist. A mind in pursuit of truth must also be open to what that truth might ask of him. As anyone who follows the daily news knows, if one wants a tranquil spirit then they must shield their eyes from the world.

In the choice between truth and repose, the public servant must choose truth, and with truth, we must also choose action.

May it be the will of our Creator that we not be satisfied in taking the easy path, but rather, may the Holy One help our spirits find fulfillment in the pursuit of truth in both our hearts and our deeds. May this be God’s will--AMEN.

Good morning, Lord. Thank you for this beautiful day!
Thank you for the rest we received this weekend, and for all those who labored in our absence to prepare for the busy week ahead.
Lord, in this hectic final week, help us in all we do and say. Place on our tongues the kind and gentle words You would have us say. Place on our hearts Your compassion for all those we serve. And, place on our minds Your will for Your people.
And when the week is over, let Your will be done.
In Jesus’ name, we pray--AMEN.

President Herbert Hoover said that “Wisdom consists not so much in knowing what to do in the ultimate as in knowing what to do next.”
The questions of right or wrong on the big issues of life are, ironically, often the easy decisions to make. It is the seemingly little questions, in the day in and day out of life, that determines who is truly wise.
As President Hoover said, wisdom can be found in simply knowing what to do next. Living in the moment, with the choice in front of you, with decisions to be made, now, in this moment, these are the times when we are tested, and this is when wisdom is demanded of us.
May the Holy One of Blessing guide us in our actions and give us the ability to live our lives with wisdom. May this be God’s will--AMEN.

The 20th Century American poet, John Ciardi commented on society. He wrote: “Humanity cannot be measured by what it is; only by what it is trying to become.”
To be truly alive is to engage in an ongoing process of growth. Just as we as individuals need to continue to learn and develop, so do we as a society need to dream and strive to be more than what we are in the present.
To be judged based solely on who we are, is to see but part of a picture. We can only be fully understood by seeing how far we have come, and how much further we are trying to go.
May the Holy One of Blessing judge our efforts with compassion and grant us the fortitude to continue ever forward in our labors of creating a just and enlightened society. May this be God’s will.--AMEN.
 

We pray to the Holy One, the Creator of us all. May the One who causes the rain to fall and the wind to blow, bring relief and a cessation to the fires that are ravaging our State. May the Holy One assist and protect those who stand in harms way to defend the earth and those who dwell upon it. May our actions be worthy of their courage and selflessness. May this be God’s will.--AMEN.

Colleagues and friends, 160 years ago today, at 12 o`clock noon on Saturday, September 1st, 1849, a group of our predecessors met. They convened 48 delegates in Colton Hall, in the town of Monterey. 43 days later this group engrossed the first Constitution of the Great State of California.
In many ways those of us gathered here today in the Senate are similar to those who created this great state. Lawyers, ranchers, merchants, military men, printers, surveyors, a banker - they came from varied backgrounds and many different places, far and near. They came together, as we do today, under the watchful eye of a benevolent creator, with the primary objective of creating a wonderful place to raise their families and to prosper in freedom.
Dear God, please lead us today in our efforts to continue the work begun by our predecessors. Grant that we may be as successful as they were, in your eyes, the eyes of those we serve today and in the eyes of those who will surely follow us.
We pray this in your holy name-AMEN.
 

I invite you to turn your attention to the Presence of the One in whatever way you see the One. In whatever comforting form the One takes, whether it be Jesus or Buddha or Muhammad or Moses or the sacredness of nature, we allow the energy of love to fill these Senate Chambers.

We welcome Divine wisdom and compassion to fill the hearts and minds of Senators and their staff here today who search for solutions to California’s challenges. We pray that every Californian, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, black, brown, or white, young or old, gay or straight know that they count today. They count in the eyes of God and in the eyes of this state’s leaders.–AMEN.

I invite you to turn your attention to the Presence of the One in whatever way you see the One. In whatever comforting form the One takes, whether it be Jesus or Buddha or Muhammad or Moses or the sacredness of nature, we allow the energy of love to fill these Senate Chambers.

We welcome Divine wisdom and compassion to fill the hearts and minds of Senators and their staff here today who search for solutions to California’s challenges. We pray that every Californian, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, black, brown, or white, young or old, gay or straight know that they count today. They count in the eyes of God and in the eyes of this state’s leaders.–AMEN.

Ralph Waldo Emerson called upon us to examine the meaning of our life and the purpose of our deeds. He wrote: "In single file the days bring their gifts. We choose and pay for them with time. In the morning we have today: its hours are currency. At night they will have been exchanged. For What?" he asks. "For a task well done, a house lovingly cared for, for contentments or regrets, for a memory which blesses or burns, for a little more wisdom."

Each day we are given is a gift. The question is what we will do with it. Will our time have been squandered with sentiments such as "if only I . . . " or "I wish I had . . . "?

Or will we be able to sit back each night and say, "I did something today that mattered, that touched a life, that helped another soul"? At the end of our days, will our memories bless us or burn us?

We pray to the Holy One to enable us to fulfill the boundless potential of each and every day, and may the sum of our days exceed the expectations of our dreams.

May each day bring a memory filled with blessing. May this be God`s will.-AMEN.

I invite you to turn your attention to the Presence of the One in whatever way you see the One. In whatever comforting form the One takes, whether it be Jesus or Buddha or Muhammad or Moses or the sacredness of nature, we allow the energy of love to fill these Senate Chambers.

We welcome Divine wisdom and compassion to fill the hearts and minds of Senators and their staff here today who search for solutions to California’s challenges. We pray that every Californian, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, black, brown, or white, young or old, gay or straight know that they count today. They count in the eyes of God and in the eyes of this state’s leaders.–AMEN.

We gather on this Thursday morning in October, the most important day of our professional year, to conclude our deliberations, our considerations and debate of our annual budget. As we do so, I am reminded of the thoughtful and insightful words of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Dr. King has said that - "Power without love is reckless and abusive.
Love without power is sentimental and anemic.
Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice." So as we proceed with our task today, let us use the privilege and the power of our elective office, infuse it with love so that we can begin to implement justice as best can be accomplished through bipartisan compromise. Baruch atah adonoi, eloheynu me`lech ha`olom, sh`he`cheyanu, v`keyamanu v`hegeyanu la`zeman ha`zeh. Blessed are you, Creator of the Universe, who has given us life, sustained us and brought us to this time and place. Amen.

We turn to our Creator on this day for guidance and for blessing. The people of this Great State have entrusted to these men and women a sacred task, not merely to represent them, but also to lead us and inspire us.
The people ask of their leaders to be just, and to have compassion, to be honest in both word and deed.
As each of you embark on this sacred journey, we ask the Holy One, the Creator of us all, to guide you with wisdom and with insight, and to bless you with open hearts and open minds.
May the Holy One look with favor upon you on this day, and every day, and may all of your worthy endeavors be found pleasing in the eyes of God--AMEN

Eternal God,

We live at a time where too often the focus of life is on what is mistakenly assumed to be the attainment of happiness, but this definition of happiness is not grounded in meaningful accomplishments or in deep relationships, but in superficial achievements and the attainment of ephemeral things, or simply the pursuit of fun.

Ralph Waldo Emerson warned us against the shallowness of a life spent in pursuit of happiness, divorced of substance. He said that “the purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

May it be Your will, O God, that our lives be enriched from living with loving hearts and generous deeds, may we always act with honor and integrity, and may we always be known for living lives of meaning and substance. May this be God’s will.--AMEN.

In the great words of Audrey Hepburn, “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, ‘I’m possible’”.
My dear senators, it is our hope and prayer for you that in your deliberations, decisions and votes today that you will help create a shift in California from impossibilities to possibilities. Thereby, giving every Californian the ability to say with confidence, “I’m possible!”
Let us pray:
Eternal and loving God, we pray for our California Senate today. We pray for the deliberations and debates that will take place in this room: where there is blockage may a way be cleared, where there is a barrier may there be an opening, where there is impossibilities may possibilities be found. This prayer we pray.--AMEN.
 

Theologian John M. Drescher tells the story about the corn farmer who won all the blue ribbons for his corn year after year at the surrounding fairs.  Yet each year he shared his best seed corn with all his neighbors.

“How do you expect to continue to win blue ribbons,” someone asked him, “if you give your best seed corn to others?”
“You don’t understand,” said the farmer.  “The wind carries the pollen from field to field.  If I am to have the best corn, I must see to it that all my neighbors also have the best corn.  If they produce poor corn it will pollinate mine and pull my quality down.”

My dear senators, we are all gardening the same plot of ground.  Inside these chambers are the opportunities to plant good seeds so that the quality of all Californians lives may be lifted up.

Let us pray:

Eternal and loving God, we pray for our California Senate today.  May the good seeds that are planted inside these chambers today strengthen, encourage, enliven and bring hope to every Californian for a brighter tomorrow.--AMEN. 

 O God of life and laughter,

 We turn to entertainers to make us laugh and to cry, and to give us a reprieve from everyday pressures.  But the greatest entertainers do something more.  They make us think, and see, and experience the world in new and different ways.  

Robin Williams once said “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

This week California lost a beloved native son, and a man who was more than just an entertainer, he was a court jester and a philosopher, and his words and ideas helped change our world for the better.    

May it be your will O God that we be ever aware of the power we hold with our words and ideas, and may we not be afraid to use them to make this world a better placem,--AMEN.

 God of time and space,

We begin each day with new opportunities for us to learn and grow, and to see how this day is connected to both our past and to the days ahead. The American historian, Abraham Geiger, wrote of his philosophy of life: “Draw from the past, live in the present, work for the future.”

May we have the wisdom to draw on the varied experiences of our own lives and from the lives of others.  May we never forget to savor every moment as we live it.  And may the work of our days bring about a future world that is renewed and redeemed.  May this be God’s will.--AMEN.

 God of all humanity,

The three Abrahamic traditions all teach a similar version of the Golden Rule "do

not do to others what you would not have them do to you." But the noted

psychologist, Erich Fromm taught that it is equally true to say "Whatever you do to

others, you also do to yourself."

Government is a reminder to us that people do not exist in isolation from one

another. Rather, we live in a state of relationship with everyone around us. While

we are often aware of the behavior others have on our lives, we sometimes forget

that the way we treat others also shapes who we are and how we live.

When we approach those in this world with kindness, compassion and joy, we

become more open to receiving those blessings from others.

May the Holy One of Blessing, the Creator of all humanity, grant us the wisdom,

strength and ability to create the world we wish to live in. May this be God's will.

-AMEN.

God of knowledge and insight,

In this day and age when we have access to what seems to be unlimited information, it can be tempting to believe that we also have access to unlimited understanding and comprehension.  And yet, Goethe’s words from the past still ring true.  He cautioned us that “doubt grows with knowledge.”  What most scholars, and even experts find, is that the more we know, the less we have to be certain about.

O God, in our search for answers and meaning, may you help us find the right questions to ask and may we always find joy in the journey of intellectual discovery.  May this be God’s will.—AMEN.

God of all humanity,

Every generation builds on the blessings and the curses of the generations that came before them.  As President John Quincy Adams once observed “the happiness of every age is chained in mutual dependence upon that of every other.”  Success in public service is dependent on the understanding that what we do, the decisions that we make, the actions we engage in, not only affects our happiness now, but has repercussions on future generations as well.

O Holy and Gracious God, may we live each day by Your example, with compassion in our hearts, and courage in our actions.  May the work we do now be seen as a blessing by those who come after us.  May this be God’s will.--AMEN.

 O God of wisdom and insight,

Even the great thinker Leonardo da Vinci understood that as much as it is tempting

to live in a world of ideas and words, it is our actions and behaviors that ultimately

change the reality we live in. As he said: "I have been impressed with the urgency

of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we

must do."

May it be Your will 0 God, that we feel the urgency to improve our State by acting

upon our ideals and values.--AMEN.

O Author of Life and Death,

The days on the calendar move too swiftly, seeming to never give us the time we need or desire to do all that we want or need to do in any given day.

The 19th century philosopher, Goethe, who lived in a slower paced world than the one we live in, advised that “every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and if possible, speak a few sensible words.”

Every day we are given by God is a blessing not to be squandered, but to be cherished.  When we stop to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, and we contribute our own insight and understanding to the world, we are allowing ourselves the time to enjoy the life we have been given.

May it be Your will O God that we not squander the gift of time that you have given each of us, but that we may spend each day wisely.-AMEN.

God of wisdom and insight,

The world you have given us is a magnificent one, presenting us with mystery and wonder that is just waiting to be revealed. The great thinker, Galileo observed that “all truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”

May our Creator help us find fulfillment in the pursuit and attainment of truth in both our hearts and in our deeds. May this be God’s will.--AMEN.
 

God of all humanity,

In our search for truth, we can sometimes risk becoming either too dogmatic or too indecisive. However, the great Mexican writer and diplomat, Octavio Paz cautioned us by saying “wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two.”

Life’s greatest truths can best be found when we allow ourselves to be fully engaged with one another, to listen and to teach, to be able to advocate for our beliefs, even as we are receptive to the ideas of others.

May it be Your will O God that we find wisdom in each other’s words, understanding of each other’s perspectives, and be a source of inspiration in each other’s lives.--AMEN.
 

God of all humanity,

The great American philosopher, and former Sacramento resident, Mark Twain wrote these wise words: “Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”
Public servants rarely get the credit they deserve. Citizens are often cynical of those who work in government. But those who are blessed to serve in these hallowed halls should never forget the great opportunities they have been given each and every day.
May our hearts always be open to know what is right and good, and may we always have the strength and moral courage to act on that knowledge. May this be God’s will.—AMEN.
 

God of all humanity,

Two thousand years ago a great rabbi posed three questions that each person should ask of themselves:

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?

We have an obligation to be our own advocates, to look out for, and work for, what we believe to be in our own best interest. However, we do not live in this world by ourselves. We have an obligation as well to care for our fellow human beings, to not turn a blind eye to their sufferings and their needs. And whether for ourselves or for others, the right time to act is always now, for tomorrow it might be to late to make a difference.

May it be Your will O God, to grant us the courage to speak our own truth, the impulse to act with compassion towards others, and to never be afraid to seize the moment. May this be God’s will.--AMEN.

As we come closer to the end of a legislative term, let us take a moment to pause and to reflect on all that has been accomplished by those who serve our community and our State.

Public service is a sacred calling. It asks of us to be mindful of the needs and concerns of all who live here. It demands that we be ever watchful in guarding the trust that has been given us. And it encourages us to find the common ground that we can all stand on for the sake of the common good.

May the Holy One judge us with kindness and compassion in all that we do to care for the well-being of this great State, and all who live here. May this be God’s will.--AMEN.
 

Good morning, Senators, staff, and guests! Happy New Year to all of you! And thank you, Senator De León for your kind introduction.  I am honored to serve as Senate Chaplain, and I see my role as helping you connect what you do on a daily basis to the ongoing progression of our state to a reality where liberty and justice are truly experienced by all. 

Before I begin the first prayer of 2015, I’d like to make a few remarks about the God I will be invoking on your behalf.  For me, this God

• Is a God of unconditional love and compassion, not only for your constituents, but also for each one of you!
• This God is closer to each one of us than we are to ourselves, and He/She desires to be invited into the daily exigencies of our lives.
• And I also believe that this God has a sense of humor; otherwise, why would a Sister of Mercy be standing here 157 years after Sister Mary Baptist Russell purchased the land on which the Capitol stands, and who, two years later, had to sell it back to you for the same $4,000 or so that she paid for it! No, we don’t want it back, but I like to think that Mary Baptist may have completed some unfinished business, and here I now stand with gratitude and awe at God’s mysterious ways!

So, for our prayer today, I invite us to take a few moments to call to mind our ancestors - all those persons who paved the way for this moment of your beginning the legislative session of 2015

Let us remember our biological ancestors:                                                                              

• What struggles did they encounter as they left their beloved homelands? What contributions did they make for our freedom and well-being?

Let us remember our spiritual ancestors:

• What experiences of God did they impart? What hopes and dreams did they inspire in their children?

And let us remember our legislative ancestors:

• What vision did they carry for the Golden State? What personal sacrifices did they make as they laid the foundations of the California that we now administer and serve?

So, gracious and loving God: God of the past, of the present, and of the future: we trust in your presence with us today.  We thank you for our ancestors, on whose shoulders we stand and from whose perspective we benefit.  We appreciate that this is our time to collaborate with many factors in the advancement of California and the continued creation of a better and safer planet for all. 

• May we be patient with the sometimes slow progression of our plans as we acknowledge that our ancestors also encountered many obstacles. 
• May we have the courage to delve into those issues that some tell us are impossible to solve. 
• And may we act in visionary ways now so that our descendants in seven generations will thank us for our generosity, for our perseverance, and for our care for the future.  We ask this in your name, ─ AMEN.

Let us recall that we are always in God’s presence. Today I’d like to stretch out the ancestry theme with a quote from Brian Swimme. In The Universe is a Green Dragon, Brian states:

“Our ancestry stretches back through the life-forms and into the stars, back to the beginnings of the primeval fireball. This universe is a single, multiform, energetic unfolding of matter, mind, intelligence, and life. All of this is new [to us]…. We are the first generation to live with an empirical view of the origin of the universe. We are the first humans to look into the night sky and [comprehend] the birth of stars, the birth of galaxies, and the birth of the cosmos as a whole. Our future as a species will be forged within this new story of the world.”

And at the same time, the poet Rumi says that the whole universe is contained within a single human- YOU!

God of mystery and awe, given the magnificence of our being human, we are always saddened when humans don’t appreciate each other’s uniqueness, and when we fail to listen to each other’s perspectives. Today, we pray in a special way for the victims and families of the Paris massacre. Teach us to love and honor freedom of expression, and help us to act in ways that bring healing and wholeness for all Your people. We ask this in your Name. ─ AMEN

Let us take a moment to recall that we are in God’s presence.

Today I would like to use a quotation from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin on the topic of pioneers. He is speaking   about all human beings, and it can apply in particular to this Senate and to all the people of California. He says:

“We are called to be pioneers –

Pioneers who stand on the edge of great beginnings, of unseen futures –

Pioneers filled with unwarranted confidence that visions give –

Pioneers whose eyes and ears are elsewhere, who hear an echo of possibilities as music poised to enter the universe.

The movement forward, if it is to continue, will not happen by itself. The steps that must be taken can be  summarized in five words: A GREAT HOPE IN COMMON. The future is in our hands.”

Loving God, Holy Mystery, we thank You for the energy within us that drives us toward creativity and wholeness. May our hearts be ever more hopeful as we work to create that beloved community where all can enjoy the thrill of forging life and love on our precious earth habitat. We ask this in Your name.─ AMEN

(Adapted from William Cleary, We Side with the Morning, 2009)

Lord, we come before You today to thank You.

            To thank You for the social, political and economic progress we have made as a state and as a nation.

            To remind us of the great work still before us to expand that progress to the furthest horizons on Earth.

            To thank You for the blessings of liberty.

            To thank You for the blessings of equality.

            To thank You for the birth, the life and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

            Today, as we honor Dr. King, on what would have been his 86th birthday, let us take note of the divine example set by him for dedication, persistence, and commitment to nonviolent protest and social justice. Father we ask that the spirit of Dr. King live deep within the hearts of the people of this Chamber, of this great state and this great nation. Let his examples reflect in our actions and the actions of those throughout our land. Lord, grant us a renewed commitment to nonviolence as taught by Dr. King, by the Prophet Mohammed, by the Buddha, and by Christ himself. During times of social tension, when the problems of the world are gigantic in extent and chaotic in detail, be with us in our goings and comings, in our rising up and in our lying down, in our moments of joy, and in our moments of sorrow.

            The dreams of this Nation and this world must go forth.

            The dream must go forth until equality is achieved throughout our land like the rising and the setting of the sun.

            The dream must go forth until the sons and daughters of this nation realize that we can and we will overcome obstacles of social injustice and inequality.

            The dream must go forth until all men, women, the aged, and the youth of different cultures, creeds, ethnicities, and backgrounds can come together on one accord with the greatest commandment of all: At heart, love ye one another.

            Lord, we stand here today and plead for Your mercy. We call upon You to fill our hearts with love and compassion. We ask for Your blessing that the dream of Dr. King, that the dream of this state, and the dream of this nation be realized.

These blessings we ask in Your name.-AMEN.

     As we come to the end of the formal celebration of the life and witness of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let us resolve to continue to search deep in our hearts for the motivation, will, and creativity to bring his dream to fruition in our time-now. Not to brag, but my congregation, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, has been engaged in an anti-racism program for the past several years in order to “deepen our response to the unrecognized and unreconciled racism past and present within our religious community.” It is a very humbling (and ultimately freeing) reality to recognize how we (I) benefit from white privilege, and how, regardless of our good intentions, racism prevails as long as we do not take steps to dismantle the structures within our institutions and systems that keep some in and others out.
     God of infinite patience and mercy, we ask You to help us seek out and acknowledge the reasons for our slow progress in dismantling racism. Help us to face our fears, resistance, pride, shame, whatever conscious or unconscious motives hold us back from valuing an anti-racist, multicultural society. Guide our civic and religious decisions to uphold and promote the rights of all persons, especially those experiencing marginalization, injustice, bigotry, and prejudice. Continue to remind us that diversity is the hallmark of Your creation, the manifestation of Your presence in myriad sparks of Your divine life on earth. We ask this in Your holy name.─AMEN

Let us recall again that we are in God's presence.

And let us pause for a few moments to stand in the mystery of life, the mystery of our life, breathing, metamorphosing instant by instant, as we go about the work to which we have been called. John Muir once said: “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”

Holy, mysterious Creator, as we pray today for the welfare of all those unborn, we ask for their protection and nurturance within the womb. At the same time, we wish once again to commit our wills and our resources to ensure that all life is valued from birth to death, through affordable childcare, early childhood education, adequate housing, just wages for women (and men), respect for the dignity and wisdom of old age, and on and on.
Sometimes it seems like an insurmountable task, but we believe that by listening to one another and by sharing our “five loaves and two fish,” we can accomplish more than our imaginations can visualize; we can become our best selves, seekers of wisdom and activists for justice and compassion. Your love, nameless and elusive, inspires us to forge ahead despite fatigue and seeming failure. Strengthened by Your ever-sustaining presence, we believe that one day we will rejoice that through our efforts, those held captive by the circumstances of their lives will be freed to live with generous hearts and holy joy. We ask this in Your name.─AMEN

Let us center ourselves in God’s presence.

God of unity and wholeness,

In this moment, draw us to Yourself, and make us aware,

Not so much of what we’ve given as of all that we have received

And so have yet to share.

In this new week, send us forward

In power and gladness, and with great courage

To live out in the world what we pray and profess,

That, in sharing, we may

Do justice,

Make peace,

Grow in love,

Enjoy our life, other people,

And Your world, now.

We ask this in Your name.─AMEN.

                                                            (Adapted from Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace, 2005.)

Let us bring our minds and hearts into God’s presence.

God of all compassion and consolation,

We pray today for our beloved country and state; for our leaders, citizens, critics, and those without advocates:

• May we act as those who discern that You are at work with us in making the history of our time;
• May we weigh wisely, calculate boldly, act justly, and invest our short time and strength in those things that promote the common good.

O God of all, may we grow in awareness of the ways You answer our prayers by using us to answer the prayers of our brothers and sisters.

May we not fail in creativity, nor falter in generosity as we serve the needs of our human family.

We ask this in Your name.─Amen.

                                    (Adapted from Ted Loder, My Heart in My Mouth: Prayers for Our Lives, 2000)

Let us center ourselves in God’s presence.

Today I invite you to listen to a short poem by Mary Oliver called “Praying.”

It doesn’t have to be

the blue iris, it could be

weeds in a vacant lot, or a few

small stones; just

pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try

to make them elaborate, this isn’t

a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which

another voice may speak.─AMEN.

                        (Adapted from Mary Oliver, Thirst, 2006.)

There is a great line in the movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel that says “Everything will be all right in the end…if it’s not all right, then it’s not yet the end.”   Would you please pray with me:

Eternal and loving God, there are many Californians who have lost hope, who have lost heart, who have lost their way due to economics, job loss, health concerns and multiple other reasons.  And it is our prayer that the deliberations that are discussed in these chambers today will help every Californian know to the core of their being that everything will be all right in the end.  This prayer we pray.─AMEN.

Holy Mystery, Ever-Living God,

In Your profound silence, we hear a call to faith. Beyond the sorrows and disappointments of life, deep in the fabric of things, we sense a blessing: the blessing of existence, of having been chosen to be, of the invitation to become more generous and dedicated to the community.

At some point in the past, our name was called, and here we are, one of the blessed ones who exist. May our heart’s reply to Your call each day be, “Here I am,” and may our determination be to carry on – sometimes in the darkness, speaking bravely and confidently into your profound silence.─AMEN.

^{(Adapted from William Cleary, We Side with the Morning, 2009.)}

   Loving God, in the 1500’s, St. John of the Cross said: “Where there is no love, put love, and love will be there.” That’s what Etty Hillesum did in 1943. Kayla Mueller did it in the time leading up to her death last week.

   We pray today that each one of us will experience ongoing support, affection, care, and joy from those who love us intimately, so that in our work of building a more just and loving society, we will have the courage and strength to put love where there seems to be only fear, anger, violence, and chaos. May our choice to love deeply enkindle goodness, unity, and beauty in our world. We ask this in Your name.─AMEN.

     As the Christian world moves into 40 days of Lent, let us listen to God’s word from the Hebrew Scriptures: (Isaiah 58: 6-7, 10)

This is the fast that pleases me:

To break unjust fetters, to let the oppressed go free, to share your bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless poor. If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness.

     God, our creator, we trust in Your presence with us as we continue each day to bring greater justice and peace to those we serve. May all of our efforts, conversations, debates, and collaborations result in a populace that is welcome to contribute their gifts and talents for the good of the whole, now and into the future. We ask this in Your name.─AMEN.

After his epic saga Roots was published in 1976, Alex Haley said that in his office he had a picture of a turtle sitting on a fencepost. When he looked at it, Haley remembered a lesson taught to him by his friend John Gaines: “If you see a turtle on top of a fencepost, you know he had some help.” Said Haley, “Anytime I start thinking, ‘Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done!’ I look at that picture and remember how this turtle -- me -- got up on that post.”

This humorous story reminds me of what writer Helen Nielsen once wrote: “Humility is like underwear, essential, but indecent if it shows.”

My prayer as you begin this day to continue the important work on behalf of every citizen of this great state is that all of you, will remember the story of the turtle on the fencepost and the words of the prophet Micah whose message is a simple one:  “Do Justice, love Kindness and walk humbly with your God.”

May it be possible for everyone in this chamber in spite of deeply held differences, to walk humbly together in mutual respect and kindness for each other to achieve and accomplish the lofty goals for which you were elected, working to make California stronger, by bringing people together, showing us our commonality, instructing us in cooperation, making us not a collection of competing special interests, but rather working to create a community where each citizen has the experience of being connected to those around them and knows that their well-being and success are dependent on the success of all others--and let us all say.─AMEN.

I’d like to begin today with a little poem by Rod McKuen called “Lessons.”

In imitating Christ

we mustn’t once forget

he seldom went alone.

His friends were those

who needed friends themselves.

A teacher, he was often taught

And not just by his father

But by the flock he shepherded

From torment into love.

He was the wisest of his wise men.

That didn’t come by chance;

It came from caring.

(From “The Carols of Christmas,” 1971)

Gracious God, we thank You today for the caring that You have placed in our hearts for our brothers and sisters. Thank You for our families and friends who give us the space to do Your work, and who support us in our joyful and difficult days. And help us to be grateful for the voices that challenge us- challenge us to go deeper into the reasons for and the consequences of our decisions. May we continue to incarnate Your vision in our world.─AMEN.

Our prayer today is from Maya Angelou, entitled Prayer:

Father, Mother, God,
Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days,
For then we have you to lean upon.
Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days,
for then we can share that which we have with those who have less…..
For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.
For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.
For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.
For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.
For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.
Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the
world that which we need most—peace.─AMEN.

                                                                                                                                          ^{(Prayer by Maya Angelou, 2005)}

Good afternoon. I have a little bell here that came from Haiti. Can you hear it? On it are written the words: “No one listens to the cry of the poor or the sound of a wooden bell.”

Loving God, to many persons who are poor, it does seem that nobody cares.  YOU know that we in this chamber care deeply, as do many millions more throughout our world. Grant us the courage to persevere in our efforts to alleviate poverty even when it seems like an impossible task. Inspire many others to contribute their time, talent, and treasure, so that all will have a place at the table of plenty, which You have so graciously set before us. We ask this in Your name.─AMEN.

     May we not harden our hearts towards our neighbors, and not succumb to prejudice ourselves.  May we not only celebrate our survival, but also share our good fortune with others; giving food and assistance to those in need, as this is as universal across all religions and is the best way to show gratitude to God─by showing compassion and kindness to all of God’s children. We pray that also like Esther and Mordechai, we may prove strong in protecting the rights of all Californians.─AMEN.   

As we celebrate Women's History month, I invite you to listen to the words of Matilda Joslyn Gage, a newspaper founder and editor in the 1800's. She says:
 
The women of today are the thoughts of their mothers and grandmothers, embodied, and made alive. They are active, capable, determined…. They have one thousand generations back of them ....Millions of women, dead and gone are speaking through us today.
 
And Audre Lorde, 20th century poet, asks us:
 
What are the words you do not yet have? What do you need to say?...for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken.
 
           Loving God, our Father, our Mother, today we thank You for our mothers and grandmothers, who regardless of their circumstances, spoke words of encouragement, love, and truth, to set us on a path of service on behalf of others. Help us, women and men, to break the silences that still hold us captive to fear, intimidation, prejudice, and illogical thinking. May we continue to speak words of courage, compassion, and truth so that those voices still unheard can break out of their captivity for the benefit of our world.─AMEN.
 

           Gracious God, in the women of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, You have given us strong models for life and faith.

Sarah laughed at the thought of becoming a mother in her old age: grant us appreciation for the surprises of Your grace.

Deborah and Judith were fearless in facing the enemies of their people: give us courage before whatever threatens us.

Ruth proved the value of relationship and fidelity: may we be loyal to our friends and faithful to our commitments.

Esther endangered herself for the sake of her people: give us a share in her integrity and devotion.

Miriam danced before the ark: may we be joyful in Your presence.

Mary Magdalen, known as the apostle to the apostles, was first to testify to the resurrection of Jesus: may we speak our truth in confidence and joy.

Phoebe offered sacred and humble service as an emissary to the Church in Rome: may we respond to the needs of others regardless of their status.

Priscilla was a teacher and co-worker with Paul: may we offer our gifts for the common good.

And Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondered God’s mysteries in her heart: may we listen attentively to God’s unique call to each of us.

            May we find inspiration in the lives of these women.─Amen.

                                                            (Adapted from Morning and Evening Prayer of the Sisters of Mercy, 1998.)

            Today, as former women senators are welcomed back to the State Capitol, we are reminded of the words of David Whyte: “There is no house like the house of belonging.”

            Gracious and loving God, as we review the history of women’s efforts to win acceptance and belonging in the great work of government, we thank you

            That these women senators listened to the voice of their desires when they could have settled for something safe;

            That they stepped out in the dignity of their calling to share their gifts for the common good;

            That they crossed thresholds of fear and ambiguity, opening pathways for others to follow.

            May their belonging in this house we call the Senate witness to the world our ongoing evolution into the frontiers of freedom, inclusivity, and equality. We ask this in your name.─AMEN.

Almighty God

Show us what is right and proper and keep us on it.

Show us what is wrong and improper and keep us away from it.

Help us raise good families and help us keep our connection with You.

Our Lord

Forgive those who have passed away and bless the lives of the living.

Help those who are weak ─ men, women and children.

Heal those who are sick, give homes to the homeless, water to the thirsty, food to the hungry.

Bring justice to the oppressed.

Heal those who are wounded, reduce the pain and suffering of those who have lost their loved ones.

Give comfort to their families and bring all the wars and conflicts to an end.

Merciful God, Loving God,

Bring peace to the world ─ We are all Your children, we need to know one another, recognize the goodness in one another and live in greater harmony, help us lead better lives.

Where there is hatred, bring love.  

Where there is conflict, bring resolution.

Where there is tyranny, bring justice. 

Where there is despair, bring hope.

Where there is darkness, bring light. 

Where there is sadness, bring joy.

And make us instruments of peace.

Our Cherisher, Our Sustainer,

Give us understanding of Your teachings ─ so that, we as citizens of this planet, may create a harmonious earth for all people, for all faiths, for all nations, for all communities. Guide us to Your path, and keep all us in Your Guidance, in Your Love and in Your Mercy. And help us become instruments of peace.─AMEN.

            President Obama just declared March 31^st as a national commemoration of “Cesar Chavez." Let us come together for a moment of silence and listen to Cesar’s own words:

“Show me the suffering of the most miserable;

So I will know my people’s plight.

Free me to pray for others;

For you are present in every person.

Help me take responsibility for my own life;

So that I can be free at last.

Grant me courage to serve others;

For in service there is true life.

Give me honesty and patience;

So that I can work with other workers.

Bring forth song and celebration;

So that the Spirit will be alive among us.

Let the Spirit flourish and grow;

So that we will never tire of the struggle.

Let us remember those who have died for justice;

For they have given us life.

Help us love even those who hate us;

So we can change the world.─AMEN.”

^{(Cesar E. Chavez, UFW Founder, 1927-1993)}

            Dear God, We pray for the victims of the airliner crash in France and the students that lost their lives and the families that were impacted. We pray for Fran Pavley’s husband, for healing and recover. We pray for Senator Stone and the recent passing of his father, that there will be closure. We pray for our families and our loved ones. We pray for the great State of California, its natural beauty, its diverse population of creators and innovators and hard-working individuals that are providing for their families.─AMEN

            Creator, One Who Is Known By Many Names, Maker of all things upon the Earth and of the Heavens, Mitakuye Oyasin, We Are All Related, Great Spirit, whose Voice we hear in the wind, whose Breath gives us life and life to every living thing, we offer our gratitude for our lives today; for the Sacred Breath we breathe with You; and for the reminder that we were intended when we were each created and we are intended now.

            Creator, we thank you for preparing us for such a time as this; for the honor and privilege of leading the great people of this great state; for the service you have called us to and for the opportunity to use the gifts and medicine You have given us to accomplish our mission today.

And so we pray, that You will guide us this day to hear what we need to hear, feel what we need to feel, listen to when we need to listen that we may truly hear, not just what is comfortable for us to hear, but in all the ways the suffering and the struggles of our state’s people are spoken. May we see in every issue that is before us today, the human being whose life is touched by this issue an then may we know deeply that he is, that she is, whom You have called us to serve; to affirm and to validate their trust and faith in our ability to serve the greatest good of all the peoples of California.

            May we see You in every being, in our brothers and sisters who serve by our sides, in those who assist us to accomplish our mission, in those who lead us and in those who follow us; and in every child of the Mother Earth. May we know that our service to our Humankind is the way we can be an Instrument of Peace. In the lovingkindness, the courage to stand for others, the in the compassion filling and spilling into the hearts of those we do not know; let us be brave of heart and faithful of spirit. May we understand, accept and embrace that in that moment, we are being called. And may we joyfully answer that call…

Waste welo, In the Name of all that is Good and Sacred, aho! And we all say Amen and─AMEN.

     Loving Creator, You have been our God in the past, leading us from captivity to freedom.

     You are the Spirit we admire and worship now beneath this colossal creation around us. But mostly, You are the God of many names and infinite mystery, who draws us toward a world of justice and love, toward hope, toward creativity, and energetic life. We thank You for all You promise as You reassure us of Your caring, speaking to the silent expectations of our hearts. You are our God, and we seek to be Your hands and feet and heart.─AMEN.

                                                            ^{(Adapted from William Cleary, We Side with the Morning, 2009)}

Quiet us, O Silent Speaker, that out of still spaces we may hear your word.

May we walk with faith all the days of our lives,

Aware of the interdependence of all living things,

And come to know You in every thing and in each other,

And all things in You.

Quiet us, O Silent Speaker, that out of still spaces we may hear your word.

From the galaxies and the furthest stars

To the smallest atom in our heart,

You are the Flame of Love.

May we be blessing to the Universe,

And see your divinity in the within and the without of all things.

Quiet us, O Silent Speaker, that out of still spaces we may hear your word.

Gather us together, O Healing Presence,

That we may live in peace with all people

And bring glory to your name.-AMEN.

                                    ^{(From Nan Merrill, Psalms for Praying, 1996, from Psalm 106.)}

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me;

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's hosts to save me.

            In all these ways, O merciful Lord, may you guide our efforts for the good of the people of California. Rain down upon us the waters of wisdom. Let the rivers of compassion flow through our hearts. Have surge the springs of hope in our souls. May the crafted wooden tree which bore such precious fruit extend its boughs across this formidable frontier of dreams and carry us into the sea of your boundless mercy whose currents run forever and ever. ─AMEN.

     Gracious Holy One, Creator of all that is and will ever be, this is the day that You have made, and we rejoice in it; another opportunity to be, right now, the best that we can be, to speak the kindest, wisest words that we can speak, to listen thoughtfully to one another with ears that can hear beyond syllables and into the heart of each person, and to plan for a future of hope and abundance for this state, her people, her land, and her creatures. God, help Your humble servants to avoid thinking that we already know it all, that only if everyone could bend to our will we could be satisfied. Make us able to admit that we might be wrong sometimes, that our eyes might need to be opened to see a perspective that we rejected even yesterday. May we never make an idea or an opinion into a golden calf, defending it at the expense of the dignity, worth, or well-being of our fellows or constituents. Help us remember, like the wise messengers have always said, that nothing can be added to a cup that is already full, and empty us of the part of ourselves that would block open minds, gentle spirits, and eager partnerships.

            God, like you did when you created this universe, help us create symphonies of beauty and perfection out of what looks at first glance to be chaos. Help us make a difference today for many or even for just one person, whether it be through a new law or a simple smile or hello. Guide us, God, and grant abundant courage, wisdom and blessings on the ones who serve and the ones who are served.

            We ask all of this not because of any partisan agenda, but because of love and justice, the fuels that propel every true and honest effort for peace, harmony, and reconciliation in Your precious world. We lift these prayers in your many names, and with gratitude for the freedom and joy that are the divine birthright of all humanity.─AMEN.

     O God of limitless embrace, the grandness of our dreams brings us before You today. We ask that in this world, where there are at least two sides to everything: that we may experience hushed hearts by trusting that all sides of everything are Yours; that we may experience the liberation of knowing we are acting for the greater good of all; and that we may have the passion to continue our efforts despite the success or failure of our stance. Help us to continue to lean into Your Spirit for the benefit of those who rely on our efforts.─AMEN.

Teach us Your ways, O God,
That we may be open to that same Spirit
Who moved over the face of the waters
On that first day of creation,
And moves also over the chaos of these times
To fashion a day like this
A world like ours
A life like ours.
 
Teach us Your ways, O God,
That we may heed the exhortations of the prophets
And practice them toward the hungry of the world,
The poor and sick and oppressed,
That we may learn the healing humility
Which responsibly tends the earth
And all creatures therein.
 
We ask this in Your name.─AMEN.