Bless us, Lord Jesus, and stir our hearts to remember You in all we do. You are welcome in this place. I pray that you will fill each employee with satisfaction at the great work they are doing for the sake of their country. Understanding of Objectives Prayer God of truth, enlighten us now as we meet together so that we each have a clear understanding of the issues we need to discuss. 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 remember before You our comrades now departed this life. - Edward Hays, "Prayers for the Domestic Church: A Handbook for Worship in the Home". It is important to come before God in prayer with a humble spirit. As you work together on behalf of all who live in this city, may you gain strength and sustenance from one another through reason and compassion. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. by war, oppression and exploitation
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. - Ralph Waldo Emerson. I ask for your blessing on this ceremony, our awardees and all who are gathered with us today. Expressing your gratitude and appreciation in prayer is a great way to start off your meal and evening. 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. For the roof above our heads, we thank You. We rarely get the chance to bring everyone together, so we do not take it for granted. Invocations and Pledges. Invocations and pledges are popular ways to open club meetings with an inspirational message. Here are ten special opening prayers you can pray at your gatherings. Beautiful Easter Dinner Prayers for Holiday Blessings, Thanksgiving Prayers and Blessings to Offer Gratitude for Family and Friends, Thanksgiving Bible Verses To Inspire You This Holiday, Back-To-School Prayers for the Start of the Year, Inspirational Bible Verses And Quotes For Lent To Last 40 Days, 75 Thanksgiving Instagram Captions For Your Turkey Day Photos, 50 Bible Verses That Bring Peace and Comfort, 35 Wedding Blessings, Prayers, and Readings for Your Special Day, Why Southern Manners Matter In a Modern World, Christmas Prayers And Blessings To Share With The Whole Family, 115 Sympathy Messages for Friends and Family, 110 Loving Messages for Mom that Go Beyond 'Happy Mother's Day', 75 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart, 190 Happy Birthday Wishes for Friends, Family, and Everyone In Between. Movements are successful when they appeal to folks outside the group. Guide us toward the best way to take action to accomplish our goals. Amen. Lord, it is such a thrill to know that I have been awarded this scholarship and I pray that I will work conscientiously and hard for the . 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. 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. Amen. You know everything. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to gather here today. Sumaritan's Purse Thank you for bringing us together to recognize the hard work and dedication of this years award recipients. Many groups and government bodies begin their meetings with prayers or other forms of religious invocation conducted by a chaplain or religious minister. let us be truly thankful
Or this may be an opportunity to go around the table and have each person say what they are grateful for. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen. A Prayer for Class Reunion. We pray that they may all feel proud this day and enjoy sharing their achievements with family and friends. to those who cultivated the fields
Amen. - Izola White. We lift up this bread; may it be food and symbol for all of us who shall eat it. Copyright 2023, iBelieve.com. We have come together as a group united in passion and purpose. We praise you and give you glory through Christ our Lord. Psalm 118:24 says, This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Father, with joyful hearts in the spirit of thanksgiving, we ask you to bless this banquet and each person here. Here are 10 special opening prayers you can pray at your gatherings. after we said our temporary goodbyes to our dear Alma Mater. Thank you for the blessing of bringing (name) and (name) together in marriage today. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. Amen. - Christian mealtime prayer. Please rest in this warm house that we may come to know each other. for our dedication and the binding cords between us. Help us to generate good plans that are practical, sustainable, and easily implemented. Lord, listen to our hearts. those who have no festivity
"Lord, into your most holy presence we now come. At a wedding, the purpose of the prayer is primarily to thank God for the food and for those who . Amen. Please share this walk with us that we may all know nature's peace. for the warm hospitality
These prayers evoke a spirit of thankfulness and can be a good inspiration for your dinner prayer on Thanksgiving or any day. Amen. For each new morning with its light, for rest and shelter of the night, for health and food, for love and friends, for everything Thy goodness sends. I hope that the many discussions we have heard about the conduct of Charleston City Council members will bring about more religious tolerance in this city. We celebrate their capacity for creativity, for critical thinking, for focused effort. We present ourselves like an open book before You. Lord, you are worthy of our praise. We invite you to be with us during this retreat. September 24, 2014 by Steve Harsh, posted in Christian Discipleship, Faith and Values. May everyone be engaged and involved, and may all concerns be addressed. O Who is like you, God, who is holy and loving like you? Dear God, Today we join with heaven as we celebrate and give thanks for every student here. Browse through these encouraging prayers for a dose of inspiration. These prayers do a good job of recognizing God's power in our lives and encourage humility within us. - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Book of Blessings, 271. Jesuitresource.org is developed by The Center for Mission and Identity at Xavier University with support from the Conway Institute for Jesuit Education. Give them through our hands this day their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give peace and joy. Support our honored student leaders as they continue to make a difference in the world and lead a life 'For the Greater Glory of God.' We shall run and not be weary, we shall walk and not faint. Lord, You are the God of life that sustains every moment of our being. Thank you for this opportunity to come together and work together. Jesus taught us to seek you first in all things. Amen. For those who hear us pray and are beginning to seek the Lord, it can create a Other times there is no standard wording. We give You thanks and praise. let us be truly thankful
. Visit our home and this table with Your bright blessing of peace and life. May their devotion to You enable them to easily bear the mantle of leadership bestowed upon them. Prayer for God to Reveal His Will Father in heaven, we commit this meeting to You. - Edward Hays. opening prayers (athletic banquet or team cele-. Lions Prayer. - Secular mealtime prayer. We are servants of Thy threshold and are gathered beneath the sheltering shadow of Thy divine unity. 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. 1/26/2017 by Barry Chance. We ask you to give us wisdom, patience, and guidance as we plan for the future. "Good Company" Sometimes you thank a loved one for a gift, and sometimes you thank them just for being there for you. We thank you for families that offer emotional, financial, and spiritual support. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Blessed are you for giving us family and friends to be with us in times of joy and sorrow, to help us in days of need, and to rejoice with us in moments for celebration. Obviously people who don't believe in a god are not giving thanks to God but they can say more than just "Bon Appetit!". Help us to be unified in making the best possible decisions and to effectively carry them out. Help us to grow in your love, and work with you to build up the kingdom of God. This we pray, in Jesus Name, Amen. 2. And once refreshed, may we give new pleasure to you, who gives us all. We seek You for guidance and instruction, we seek You also for wisdom so that we can make the right decisions today. Prayer for Wisdom in Decisions Lord who enlightens, we ask for Your supernatural wisdom as we make some tough decisions in this meeting. That is my religion. You have inspired us with your creativity, displayed throughout this ever-evolving universe and echoed in the varied academic achievements of the students we honor in this convocation. I want my prayer to eternally touch others. Amen. Bless our eyes and taste so that we may eat this food in a holy and mindful manner. Even when such religious commencements make an effort to include people of all faiths they may exclude people with no religion. Invocation for the Faithful Departed - Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let . May all be loved. In preparing today's invocation, I was reminded that several men of science, including Ben Franklin, Albert Einstein, and Steven Hawking all believe in the Blessed are you, Lord God, king of the universe: you raised your beloved son from the dead, and made him Lord of all. Thank you for leading them in their learning, for keeping them safe as they studied, and for watching over them in their final exams. Amen. Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick, and suffering war and violence. those who cannot share this plenty
We ask that You would work mightily in us today. Enlighten us that we may know how You want us to accomplish our tasks. Our prayers for our children never cease.". We must pledge our best efforts to help one another, and to defend the rights of all of our citizens and residents. - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Book of Blessings, 182. Help us to be generous toward others, and to work with them so that they too may eat well. And how would you react if we were to organize a walkout during a Christian invocation? Sweet Reason, the humanist advice columnist, responds to a father's request for a "secular grace" for his daughter's wedding reception. Give them through our hands this day their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give peace and joy. Lord Jesus, we praise your holy name for ever. Enable us to think and strategize in ways that will achieve great results. and the wisdom to know the difference. For your presence here and now and for your presence at all times, we thank you. Prayers for our Chamber of Commerce. We place our hearts and our minds in Your hands so that You may direct us. For what we are about to receive
Prayers can be categorized as praise (worship of God), thanksgiving, intercession (asking for something specific) and confession. we are thankful. Thank You For My Scholarship. those who are hungry, sick and cold. our work and our goals this day. For rest and home and all things good. Thank you for the good plans you have for us. Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for this food. Be present at our table, Lord. Here are some great invocation prayers to help start the meeting off right. We celebrate their capacity for creativity, for critical thinking, for focused effort. And as we discuss the affairs of this church/school/ministry/business, we ask for Your will to be done. It reminded me of the importance of praying at the beginning of every occasion. Father, with joyful hearts in the spirit of thanksgiving, we ask you to bless this banquet and each person here. Learn more about Jesuit Resource. Help us to be innovative as we brainstorm solutions. 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. Whether it's appropriate to have an invocation at your corporate, association or organizational event isn't a path I'll choose to debate. Colossians 3:23 says, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord As we observe the many accomplishments of our honorees, we acknowledge that none of it would be possible without you. Thank you for food in a world where many know only hunger; For our faith in a world where many know fear; For friends in a world where many know only loneliness. Amen. BENEDICTIONS & CLOSING PRAYERS O God of people and nations, we pause at the close of this meeting to acknowledge again Your sovereignty over our lives and our Country. Amen - Samuel F. Pugh. PRAYERS OF INVOCATION (Opening) Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being, we come into Your presence in . But most of all for those we love. Lord Jesus, our brother, be with us today. For food in a world where many walk in hunger; For faith in a world where many walk in fear; For friends in a world where many walk alone; We give you thanks, O Lord. All Voices Heard Prayer Almighty God, may Your grace cover each aspect of 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. Amen. and for this good company. We come expecting to make a mark on this earth that is significant, but we can only do it with Your guidance. As we work together to fulfill your purpose, we commit to walk in grace, humility, and truth. Blessed are you, Lord our God, for ever and ever. Please guide us in this meeting. I pray that this meeting focuses upon You and Your plans for us as a body of believers. When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer. We focus our hearts and minds on you. Praying at a meeting is a great way to remind everyone that God is with each and every one of us. Forgive us for letting the distractions of daily life steal our focus. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. May this food restore our strength, giving new energy to tired limbs, new thoughts to weary minds. Lord, make Your face shine on us and be gracious to us. Keep us all, and those we love, safe and strong. Through our invocation prayers, we corporately come to God humbly, with reverence and praise, invite Him to purify our hearts and align them with His eternal purposes, and invite His presence. Can you now understand how uncomfortable many non-Christians feel when they are continually subjected to Christian prayers at secular events? Thank you for visiting this Christian prayer page. 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. The principles of our country are not based on God. 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. Be present at our table, Lord, be here and everywhere adored. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. 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With wisdom and compassion. You are our Light and our Fortress. Thank you for this opportunity to come together and work together. May each of us around this table really hear what our team members are saying. In fact, a godless grace can be very moving: it allows time for reflection and thanks focused on this world, appreciating the value of nature and acknowledging the human effort which went into bringing food, family and friends together for a meal. Browse all prayers within Invocation prayers section. Be in our midst. -- Abraham Lincoln, And then, the Democrat:
Give us clarity so that we can effectively tackle each part of todays agenda. A grace for use as an Invocation at a Blue and Gold Banquet: Scouts, family members and friends . Even if we have different opinions, give us unity of spirit. I suppose it means that we are invoking God's presence or blessing. - Izola White. O God, Most Creative and Sustaining Spirit. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lords people(Ephesians 6:18 NIV). There is also this from the humanist writer Nicolas Walter: Let us think thrice while we are gathering here for this meal. come and gather together this day. If your club chooses to open a meeting with an invocation or pledge, always take care to respect the diversity of club members and visitors. Giving thanks before a meal can be just a few words spoken from the heart and finished quickly before the food gets cold! As Mayor Riley was introducing me for the invocation, several City Council members got up and walked out. God we give you all the glory to You tonight as we remember Jesus' birth on earth. O God, you sustain all of us at every moment, as we work and weep and worry, and as we rejoice and celebrate! Father, we thank you through Christ our Lord. Prayer for Strength Precious God, I pray against the schemes of the devil over this meeting and instead I pray that You rule over this meeting. Blessed are you, Lord our God, maker of heaven and earth and Father of all your people: we give you glory for your goodness and for your loving care for us. 1 Chronicles 29:14 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with Youll find weekly encouragement to help you become more than yourself through Gods Word at her website,kristinebrown.net. Your dinner prayer could range from symbolic and lengthy to short and simple. All rights reserved. Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for this food. 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. Thank you for every gift We ask your blessing through Christ your son. May each member of this team feel valued, and may we each recognize the skill sets and knowledge that each person brings to the table. However, we are not the Taliban. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer. God, we thank you for this food. Bless your church throughout the world, and all those who seek to do your will today. the fruit of human hands from the bounty of your blessing. Let us thank him for our food. Go with a traditional prayer of thanksgiving for a familiar choice or go for something more unique. Our principles are enshrined in the Constitution, like the right of all citizens to be represented by their elected officials and not to be shunned because their religious beliefs differ from the majority. Help us make new connections and gain wisdom to do the work youve set before us. 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. Let Your will be done as we plan and make decisions. Strengthen us as we make tough decisions. "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 . 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. As we partake of this food, we pray for health and strength to carry on and try to live as You would have us. Preface to the prayer for the one giving the invocation: This prayer was designed for use as an invocation for a city council meeting. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. Loving Father, may we all celebrate together around your table in heaven. I pray that we feel Your presence during this meeting because You are with us wherever we go. Bless this food [this bread] and grant that all who eat it may be strong in body and grow in your love. Nor does a secular benediction need to be explicitly atheist, or exclude anyone because of their beliefs. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she creates engaging visual content for the website and various social media platforms. 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. 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? The Quaker tradition of "silent grace" before meals also works well for a dinner party with people of diverse religions and beliefs. We ask all this in the glorious name of Jesus Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit World without end.