We rarely get the chance to bring everyone together, so we do not take it for granted. Short invocation prayer for a graduation ceremony Lord God, We ask for your almighty hand to be upon all those who graduate today. The organized walkout vividly showed that we are engaged in one of the last civil rights struggles in which blatant discrimination is viewed as acceptable behavior. Place in our hearts the desire to make a difference to our families, to our community, to our country, and to the many cultures and peoples worldwide. As this chapter on our life closes, so a new one begins. Other times there is no standard wording. Bless our food and our drink. Let slaves rejoice, for their . Enable them to draw upon the wisdom and experience of yesterday as they respond to the questions and concerns of tomorrow. Daily, we are fed with good things, nourished by friendship and care, feasted with forgiveness and understanding. These prayers evoke a spirit of thankfulness and can be a good inspiration for your dinner prayer on Thanksgiving or any day. - Author Unknown Dinner Blessing for Humble Hearts Lead each one of us so that we can make fruitful contributions at this time. Invocation for the Faithful Departed - Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let . Lord, make us thankful for our food, bless us with faith in Jesus' blood; with bread of life our souls' supply, that we may live with Christ on high. Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. We ask for your guidance in our lives, And we pray that your love would live amongst us. to those who prepared it and those who served it. I've never cared much for the word "invocation" in worship services, or community meetings for that matter. Amen. Expressing your gratitude and appreciation in prayer is a great way to start off your meal and evening. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. It could be easily adapted to a variety of settings and circumstances. We give you the glory for everything that is accomplished. Please rest in this warm house that we may come to know each other. They are usually one or two minutes in length, are delivered by a designated club member, and are entirely optional.. Copyright 2021 Beth McLendon of Inspirational - Prayers. O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. Heres a beautiful Buddhist meal gatha that is entirely secular: We receive this food in gratitude to all beings Amen. Help us not get distracted by things within or outside this room. We declare that we will be blessed by this gathering. Blessed are you, Lord God, king of the universe: you raised your beloved son from the dead and made him Lord of all. If there be anyone who is remiss and failing, we ask for humility to accept and learn from necessary correction. We thank you for this university which embodies Jesuit and Catholic values and which provides an educational opportunity that transforms minds and hearts. And how would you react if we were to organize a walkout during a Christian invocation? Sumaritan's Purse and for all the good memories we share. For the meal we are about to eat, Help us always remember to do everything with a grateful heart and to keep our focus on you. Father of mercy, all praise be to you through Jesus Christ our savior, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Forgive us for any wrongdoing, and give us a clean heart. O Thou, the Sustainer of our bodies, hearts, and souls, Bless all that we thankfully receive. It might be race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or any other way we may be regarded as different. Jorie Nicole McDonald leads editorial video efforts for Southern Living. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Place in our hearts the desire to make a difference to our families, to our community, to our country, and to the many cultures and peoples worldwide. In Numbers 6:24-27 it says: "The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance . Browse through these encouraging prayers for a dose of inspiration. Thank you for the blessings of our individual and collective God-given gifts. O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities [and especially __________], that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. We turn to you in prayer and ask you to bless us and this food you have given us. These prayers will be appropriate for most meetings that Christians would find themselves attending. Amen. The object is not just to drum up support among fellow humanists, though such grassroots activism is crucial, but to appeal to everyone's sense of fair play and tolerance. We invite you into our presence. Gracious God, let us be truly thankful However, when governments and other groups refuse to stop all religious commencements and invocations, they may sometimes agree to a humanist benediction as an alternative. Amen. - Ralph Waldo Emerson. And as we discuss the affairs of this church/school/ministry/business, we ask for Your will to be done. Lets open our hearts to Gods presence by opening our times together in prayer. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, 13. Help us to find principles that we all can agree on and put these into action. 21 Oct 2015 | Posted by Military.com. Eternal God, I pray that You bless us in this meeting and keep us. O God, our Father, we thank you for this gathering as we come together to honor the members of Recruit Class 131, their families and their instructors, on the day of their graduation. Thy creatures bless and grant that we may feast in paradise with Thee. Sometimes when we pray we have special requests to ask of God. I have two questions for the council members who could not even bear to be in the same room with an atheist giving the invocation, and who are now surprised that so many of us feel deeply offended by their organized walkout. Invocation for the Sovereign Pontiff - Lord Jesuss, shelter our Holy Father the Pope . Come and reveal Your will in every aspect of our life and ministry. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Stop What Youre Doing: The First Trailer For "Are You There God? We ask for your inspiration and insights. Amen. for the good things we have Please sleep under these soft blankets that we may all know safety. For all of this, we give you thanks. Can you now understand how uncomfortable many non-Christians feel when they are continually subjected to Christian prayers at secular events? Heavenly Father, We thank You for the gift of life You have given, and for blessing us with our beloved (celebrant's name) 's life. Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. Below are some non-religious poems and prayers that can help you say, "Thank you," whether it's to the universe, a higher power, or to someone you love. Even when such religious commencements make an effort to include people of all faiths they may exclude people with no religion. I pray that we will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. With wisdom and compassion. For the hands held in ours, we thank You. Amen. 1. Earth maker and Lord of all creation, we are mindful that this food before us has already been blessed by the sun, earth, and rain. Enlighten us that we may know how You want us to accomplish our tasks. 2. - Author Unknown. "Good Company" Sometimes you thank a loved one for a gift, and sometimes you thank them just for being there for you. Please show us great and mighty things that we do not know so that this meeting can fulfill its role for the kingdom. Thank you for the gift of family. We shall run and not be weary, we shall walk and not faint. Come and help us maintain unity as we discuss certain matters. We lift up this bread; may it be food and symbol for all of us who shall eat it. Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. If we do disagree, let it be on the content, and not personality conflicts or power plays. Earth maker and Lord of all creation, we are mindful that this food before us has already been blessed by the sun, earth and rain. Thank You, for everyone who has worked on this program. Help us move towards our goals with determination and always with an abundant sense of humor. Lord, you are worthy of our praise. Bind our hearts and minds by Your Spirit. Let us be effective and decisive. need. Amen. - John Wesley. Come upon us and cause us to have a productive meeting. our work and our goals this day. Amen. Some of the words might be a little unfamiliar to the younger Cub Scouts, but you could substitute appropriate simpler language as necessary. Know a prayer that could be added to this page? Bless our eyes and taste so that we may eat this food in a holy and mindful manner. Help us to resolve any disputes gracefully, be creative problem-solvers, and have great team spirit. Bless those whose work to prepare this meal has truly been a work of prayer, and bless all of us who shall share it with Easter love and joy. Please pray this prayer that all our names of God may guide us on. Each of us is also part of some majority. May those sharing information give us pertinent points so we all clearly understand. Bigotry exists everywhere, but it is especially outrageous when acts of intolerance at government functions are organized, carried out, and later defended in the media by government officials. An Opening Prayer for an Awards Ceremony Dear God, Thank you for bringing us together to recognize the hard work and dedication of this year's award recipients. Our Father in Heaven, we give thanks for the pleasure of gathering together for this occasion. An invocation prayer is a request for the spiritual presence and blessing of God in a ceremony or event. May they and we, because of our faith in You, our God, taste in the victory of life over death. When I have been asked to pray for a public meeting, I have kept my main focuson my opportunityto manifest my closeness to the Father. appropriate for. Father, please guide us so that this meeting can be productive. May we accomplish great things this day, and may we display an attitude of cooperation and respect. Father of mercy, we praise you and give you glory for the wonderful gifts you have given us: for life and health, for faith and love, and for this meal we have shared together. Lord, make Your face shine on us and be gracious to us. Lord God and giver of all good gifts, we are grateful as we pause before this meal, for all the blessings of life that you give to us. For food that stays our hunger, For rest that brings us ease, For homes where memories linger, We give our thanks for these. Come and let Your wisdom fall upon us, O Lord, as we gather for this meeting. I feel very grateful for their public support. God we give you all the glory to You tonight as we remember Jesus' birth on earth. Let love and understanding be the foundation. This prayer point idea came to me as I was listening to a story about a man who prayed a simple public prayer. For what we are about to receive Go with a traditional prayer of thanksgiving for a familiar choice or go for something more unique. Let the just rejoice, for their justifier is born. George Rodger, of Aberdeen, Scotland, used this god-free grace at the start of a wedding meal: Let us enjoy good food and good drink, You, O God, are the source of inspiration, the spark that urges us on to excellence. 1. Prayer to the All-Knowing God God of Love, we trust in You with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. "May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us." (Psalm 90:17) Father, as we pray for our Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, we realize they often deliver the first impression of our region to prospective . - Izola White. I pray that You intervene in this meeting, let it work for our good and for the good of the church. This prayer is one you probably learned in Sunday school when you were little. In your love, give us your blessing, and bless this food for us. May Your Holy Spirit bide and strengthen all of us in this coming year. . May You, then, bless this table and this food, and each of us in Your holy name. Scholarship Award Luncheon Prayer. Expressing gratitude for the food and appreciation of the company is all that is needed. those who cannot share this plenty Help us to be generous toward others, and to work with them so that they too may eat well. We pray that they, and we, may use our many gifts of intellect, heart, and soul to address the problems that the human community faces in bringing justice more fully into the world and in tending wisely to the lovely garden that is our earth and our home. Please share this walk with us that we may all know nature's peace. May our facilitator keep us on track and help us understand the next steps. Throughout Scripture, special occasions were celebrated by holding a banquet, when your people would congregate to eat, fellowship, and enjoy your many blessings. Thy people bless, and grant that we may feast in paradise with thee. - Secular mealtime prayer. - Author Unknown A Table Prayer Before Meals We look to you, O Lord, for food to nourish our bodies, for grace to strengthen our spirits, for love to enrich our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Father, we thank you so much for our time here together For all the friends we have made For all the days of laughter and fun And for all the times of great discovery and learning. May these objectives keep us on track, and may they bond us together with a common goal. Your dinner prayer could range from symbolic and lengthy to short and simple. And vow to respond in turn to those in need Lead us in joy and celebration of the only reality . Amen. Lord, we thank you for giving them the gift of each other. Here are 10 special opening prayers you can pray at your gatherings. Let the sick and infirm rejoice, for their savior is born. Invocation: Our God and God of our fathers, we gather as loyal members of our Cub Scout Pack, and we pray for Thy blessings. Since you redeemed us so dearly and delivered us from evil, as you gave us a share in this food so may you give us a share in eternal life. For wind and rain and sun above. Whether it's appropriate to have an invocation at your corporate, association or organizational event isn't a path I'll choose to debate. Guidance Prayer Precious Lord, please give us guidance in this meeting because a lack of guidance causes a nation to fall, but victory is won through many advisers. Place in our hearts the desire to make a difference to our families, to our community, to our country, and to the many cultures and peoples worldwide. We ask that You be their guide and guardian as they move through their careers with their . Give us balance in times of distraction and uncertainty. Bless this food [this bread] and grant that all who eat it may be strong in body and grow in your love. Thank You, Father, for we know that You are always here to support Your people. Your word says that all things work together for the good of those who love You, to those who are called according to Your purpose. Amen. Let our plans be orchestrated by You. to those who planted the crops - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Book of Blessings, 179. Direct our thoughts, words, decisions, and actions toward the right path and help us stay on track. Prosperity Prayer Awesome Father, I thank You for this meeting and I thank You for every like-minded individual who is here to fulfill tasks for Your kingdom. Loving Father, may we all celebrate together around your table in heaven. Lord, let us not be misguided in this meeting so that we do not lead to decisions that produce ineffective results. We praise you and give you glory through Christ our Lord. Kristine is the author of the book,Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God,and the companion workbook. Find opening prayers for the following types of events in this article below: What better way to honor the Lord than to open our gatherings, meetings, celebrations, and services with prayer? It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Please guide us, Lord. Whether you are asking God to bless the food, your family or friends, or even giving back blessings to God in your prayer, a prayer that calls on blessings can help you express your gratitude and acknowledge God's hand in your life. Generous God, you freely give each of us uncountable gifts and talents; help us to be good stewards of these; and by your by example, For the breath in our lungs, we thank You. Jesus taught us to seek you first in all things. Our teachers and mentors Our family and loved ones We thank You for them and give them all to You in prayer. Be with us this hour, and every hour, I pray. Invocations can be at the opening of a meeting, business, retreat, ceremony, graduation,sporting event,award ceremonies, banquet dinners, fundraiser anywhere an observed. Help them to stay true to their dreams, to use their gifts wisely, and to walk into the future with faith, hope, and great love. Satisfy the needs that need to be met during this meeting. May they seek to be the best they can be and push themselves to new excellence. Give us clarity so that we can effectively tackle each part of todays agenda. I pray that we feel Your presence during this meeting because You are with us wherever we go. The apostle Paul encourages us with this truth in Philippians 2:2, Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Help us to be unified according to your Word, Father. Thank you for this opportunity to come together and work together. Calm our anxious spirits. Be here and everywhere adored. Let Your will be done as we plan and make decisions. Amen. Amen. We place this meeting in Your hands. May they always show care and concern for each other, sharing joys, sorrows and burdens. I pray that You direct our steps so that this meeting can achieve our kingdom aims. JesuitResource.org is a service of Xavier University's Center for Mission and Identity, Xavier University Center for Mission and Identity 3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45207 513-745-3777, Multi Faith Calendar of Religious Holy Days, Foundational Documents on Jesuit Catholic Education, Xavier University's Center for Mission and Identity. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. May your hearts be filled with dreams to face each day with hope and motivation.". Let our efforts be kingdom-motivated and Spirit-led so that we can be blessed by this meeting. Prayers can be categorized as praise (worship of God), thanksgiving, intercession (asking for something specific) and confession. Amen. May everyone be engaged and involved, and may all concerns be addressed. It's possible to use invocations for all occasions, such as graduations, city council meetings and religious . Lord, bless this food and grant that we may thankful for thy mercies be; teach us to know by whom we're fed; bless us with Christ, the living bread. We celebrate their capacity for creativity, for critical thinking, for focused effort. 1/26/2017 by Barry Chance. Gilliard said an atheist giving an invocation is an affront to our troops because they are "fighting for our principles, based on God." Forgive us for having our minds set on other things and not giving you the honor you deserve. Amen. Prayer for God to Give Wisdom and Clarity God of Wisdom, we seek Your help today. Dear God, help us apply Your wisdom as we decide on certain matters and make plans. As we partake of this food, we pray for health and strength to carry on and try to live as You would have us. Help us hear the complete message being communicated. Traditional Wedding Reception Prayers For those who want to wrap tradition into their wedding, we have traditional wedding reception prayers for you. Amen. Pausing for a moment at the beginning of this Blue and Gold banquet let us still our bodies, quiet our minds, and let us be in a spirit of prayer. We pray for the presenters, attendees, and volunteers who made this conference possible. Lord, listen to our hearts. Help us to be generous toward others, and to work with them so that they too may eat well. Let our actions in this meeting be valuable to our aim, which is to build up and edify one another. the achievements and accomplishments . Invocation Prayer for a Banquet Dear God, We thank you for this wonderful celebration that we share in now. We are gathered today, both religious and secular members of our community, with the shared belief that we must treat our fellow human beings with respect and dignity. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Or how about this variation on a Native American thanks giving: We give thanks for the plants and animals who have given themselves so that we can enjoy this meal together. As we begin our conference, we dedicate this time to you. In Jesus' Name, Amen. We thank You for all who have given of their energy and skill So that we can graduate today. Dear and beloved stranger, please eat this food with us that we may all be nourished. Gods Will Be Done Prayer Oh Lord, please instruct us and teach us in the way that we should conduct this meeting. We ask all this in the glorious name of Jesus Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit World without end. Thank you for your Holy Word and for giving us the opportunity as a group to study your Truth together. say tonight (today). Before my public prayer, I privately pray and ask God to allow my closeness and love for him to show through me. Help us to be unified in making the best possible decisions and to effectively carry them out. Here are a few prayers that center on blessings. for those that made it possible, Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You with all my heart that You have heard and answered my request for a scholarship, so that I may continue my studies, for which I praise and thank You. honor and praise. You have blessed us with supportive people who seek the welfare of Your people and Your church/school/ministry/business. Remove the distractions that would keep us from you here today. We give you respect and acknowledge you as our Creator and Provider. The invocation, in its simplest form, is a prayer or request for the spiritual presence of God in a ceremony or event. Sir Henry Guildford: Henry VIII, I, iv. I pray that we feel Your presence during this meeting because You are with us wherever we go. In a world where so many are hungry, may we eat this food with humble hearts; in a world where so many are lonely, May we share this friendship with joyful hearts. It can be modified to fit many other types of settings involving government bodies. In Jesus' Name, Amen. -- Harry S. Truman. Our complete attention is on you. On Tuesday, March 25, I gave the invocation to the Charleston City Council. Change of Command Ceremony for a Squadron/Battalion - Invocation (Christian) (written by Chaplain Daryl Densford, prayed the 5-15 CAV Change of Command Ceremony, Ft. Knox, KY, 2005) Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for this beautiful day that we can stand before you. Here in Your presence many friends and families are gathered to celebrate in fellowship. Daily, we are fed with good things, nourished by friendship and care, feasted with forgiveness and understanding. You are worthy of praise. Traditional Opening Wedding Reception Prayer Lord God Almighty, That is my religion. Prayer of Thanksgiving Gracious God, we thank You for this opportunity to call people for a meeting. Blessed are you, loving Father, for all your gifts to us. Help us to wisely evaluate our options, considering the pros and cons. God, as we begin this meeting, we ask that you would guide our thoughts and our actions so that we may have a successful meeting today. Amen. But there are also some longer or more formal wordings. Bless their lives from this day on with goodness and love. As we work together to fulfill your purpose, we commit to walk in grace, humility, and truth. Invocation We fold our hands and bow our heads; And than thee Lord for our daily bread; For home and school and family, WE give thanks O Lord to thee. - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Book of Blessings, 182. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love is patient, love is kind. We must hold firmly to our unity, borne forward now not of tragedy but of loving kindness. O Who is like you, God, who is holy and loving like you? We are grateful for this opportunity to honor and thank those who are leaving our ranks; first, for their dedication to the ideals of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and secondly, for the personal sacrifices they have made to bring these ideals to many others. Who have helped to bring it to our table, Invocations and Pledges. Blessed be our mother earth, our father sky and sun. Help us to generate good plans that are practical, sustainable, and easily implemented. Help us to be innovative as we brainstorm solutions. Prayer for Our Thoughts Omniscient God, we know that Your thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are Your ways our ways, for the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than our ways, and Your thoughts than our thoughts. Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Thank you for the blessings of our individual and collective God-given gifts. those whose lives are more affected than our own Prayer to Do Good in Gods Kingdom Oh Lord, this meeting has occurred because we want to do good for Your kingdom. - Author Unknown. Below is a prayer that was delivered at a Cub Scout "Blue & Gold" banquet. Prayer for Invocations and Prayer for Office Christmas Parties Prayers for Meetings Almighty God, You are our Creator and our Sustainer. Preface to the prayer for the one giving the invocation: This prayer was designed for use as an invocation for a city council meeting. we are thankful. The Quaker tradition of "silent grace" before meals also works well for a dinner party with people of diverse religions and beliefs. Related: 50 Religious Christmas Quotes 2. And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency, bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help, by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. It is you who are omniscient. 1 Chronicles 29:14 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with The apostle Paul told the church to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. In either situation, you may find the following advice and examples useful. - President John F. Kennedy. As faculty, staff, and administrators at this University, we are grateful to you for the opportunity to participate in the development of these students, to honor them for their hard work and achievement, and to thank them for the inspiration they provide to keep us going in our chosen professions. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Book of Blessings, 183. Many groups and government bodies begin their meetings with prayers or other forms of religious invocation conducted by a chaplain or religious minister. You are everywhere, Lord. Thank you for their confidence to discover and explore new possbilities and knowledge to discern what is right and good and just. But we ask that You reveal to us Your thoughts throughout this meeting, let our ways be aligned with Your ways throughout this meeting, in Jesus Name. It is you who are omnipresent. We are grateful that they and their families entrusted Xavier's faculty and staff to engage them intellectually, morally, and spiritually. Creator God and Lord of Life, You who call forth from the darkness of death all those who love You, we rejoice, on this Easter Sunday, in the resurrection from the dead of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Blessed are you, Lord our God, for ever and ever. Please rest in this warm house that we may come to know each other. However, when I emcee or speak at events, I commonly see one big mistake made consistently. I pray that those who don't know him - or are not close to him - would feel such a warmth between the Father and me that they would hunger for that kind of relationship. Thank you for this special time of gathering in celebration. Help us all to continue the good work we are . Let us open our hearts and minds in grateful prayer: for all creation; for all people; for all who are with Xavier University; and most especially for those whom we come to recognize and honor this day. Please pray this prayer that all our names of God may guide us on.

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