On January 9, 2023, I had the opportunity to open in prayer the first meeting of the City Council for 2023. It was also the session the city received from the mayor the State of the City address.
City of Schenectady, Council meeting
As we prepare to listen to and consider the State of the City address, and as the City Council convenes for its first plenary meeting of 2023, we gather to call on every source of inspiration for excellence, admiration, and goodness. It is my hope that we can find manifold reasons to be thankful this evening, even in the midst of very real and very profound challenges faced by far too many in this beloved City of Schenectady. And we gather in prayer because as a community of leaders, we must seek to be guided in our discernment, and empowered in our actions by everything that is true, holy, righteous, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise.
It is in seeking to be guided and empowered in these ways, that I invite you to pray with me:
Everlasting source of truth and love,
In whom we live and move and have our being as individuals and as a community:
Give us purity of heart and strength of purpose,
that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will,
no weakness keep us from doing your will;
that in your light we may see light clearly,
and in your service find perfect freedom.
Based on the Book of Common Order (1940, and inspired by St. Augustine)
Open unto us - light for our darkness
Open unto us - courage for our hatred
Open unto us - hope for our despair
Open unto us - peace for our turmoil
Open unto us - joy for our sorrow
Open unto us - strength for our weakness
Open unto us - wisdom for our confession
Open unto us - forgiveness of our shortcomings
Open unto us - love for our fear
Open unto us - your holy self for our human self
All source of goodness, open unto us!
Amen
Based on Howard Thurman