With his opening prayer on the first day of the 152nd Biennium of the General Assembly, Representative John Torbett was not only carrying on an American tradition — he was telling the story of how that tradition started on a sweltering day in Philadelphia more than two centuries ago.
The date was June 28, 1787 and the Constitutional Convention was off to a rough start. Most of the attendees managed to show up more than a week late, and some famous names even refused to come: John Hancock apparently had better things to do, Samuel Adams was busy brewing beer back in Boston, and — when asked later why he didn’t participate — Patrick Henry joked that he had “smelt a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward the monarchy.”
Things had been dragging on for well over a month and the Founding Fathers were cranky.
But it wasn’t just the heat that was stifling progress in Independence Hall that summer. Unable to agree on how the states should be represented in the new federal union, the delegates were at a critical crossroads. They seemed to have lost their way — and more than a few, including the majority attending from New York, had given up and gone home.
Serving as the senior delegate from Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin (81 at the time and in failing health) had had enough. He’d been in the very same room when the Declaration of Independence was signed thirteen years earlier, and he would struggle to rise one last time to speak his mind. George Washington, who was presiding, probably told everyone to shut up so that Franklin could be heard.
“Mr. President,” Franklin began slowly, “the small progress we have made after four or five weeks — close attendance and continual reasonings with each other, our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many “noes” as “ayes,” — is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding.”
His revolutionary spark quickly returned. Looking around at his colleagues, the old fire was there as he said:
“We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom — since we have been running about in search of it!”
At that point, it’s a good bet that many of them started to cackle and pound their desks in approval. They were a raucous bunch, after all. But the tension was broken and Franklin had their undivided attention. He continued:
“We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which — having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution — now no longer exist,” he reminded them. “And, we have viewed modern states all round Europe…but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.”
“In this situation of this Assembly, groping, as it were, in the dark, to find political truth — and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us — how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understandings?”
Franklin then recalled their own mutual experience:
“In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard — and they were graciously answered: all of us who were engaged in The Struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind Providence, we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity.”
“And have we now forgotten that powerful friend?” he admonished them. “Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?”
And then he said this — quoted down through the ages and repeated once again by Representative Torbett on the North Carolina General Assembly’s opening day:
“I have lived, Sir, a long time — and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
Undoubtedly, there was a long pause while the old patriot’s words sunk in. Then he issued them (and future generations) a warning:
“We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: we shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by Human Wisdom — and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.”
Then Franklin made a motion:
“I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.”
Stirring words, indeed — and while it makes for a great story, it didn’t exactly end with a Kumbaya moment. As any casual observer of the legislative process can tell you, very few things ever do.
Although Franklin’s motion was seconded by Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Alexander Hamilton made a snarky remark and all hell broke loose.
Franklin’s motion was facing increasingly more resistance — so Edmund Randolph, a delegate from Virginia, offered an amendment that would make the idea harder to vote against. He suggested that in addition to saying a prayer every day, the convention should pass a resolution stating that official public prayers should be said every 4th of July, the anniversary of American Independence.
All of the delegates were veterans of the Revolution, and Randolph, who had served with Hamilton on General Washington’s military staff during the war, figured that if he couldn’t appeal to his colleagues’ piety, maybe he could appeal to their sense of nostalgia.
That didn’t work either. The delegates hemmed and hawed, the clock ran out, and the matter was never taken up for a vote.
But whether or not they had been inspired by Franklin, Divine providence, or they were just over it, two and a half months later, the Convention successfully adjourned. The Framers had produced the first draft of the United States Constitution, a document unlike anything in human history at that time.
Despite the initial lack of official enthusiasm for the idea (and the inauspicious beginnings of the entire endeavor — see Editor’s note), we’ve mostly acceded to Franklin’s request over the last two centuries. Formal prayers have been read by nearly every elected body at all levels of government — the Congress, each of the 50 state legislatures, and the tens of thousands of local commissions and councils — for over 200 years. The invocation is an American tradition.
What follows is a transcription of all the opening prayers that have been offered in the North Carolina House of Representatives, by legislators from both parties and a wide-range of faiths, from 2011 to 2014. Special thanks to former Speaker Pro-Tem Paul Stam’s hardworking staff for putting it all together. They are listed by name at the end of this post.
May these words inspire you — and may God continue to bless the United States of America and the Great State of North Carolina.
Editor’s Note: North Carolina’s delegates refused to formally ratify the Constitution without substantial additions that would guarantee individual rights and limit the power of the federal government. Rhode Island, wary of a strong central government, boycotted the entire process from the very beginning and never even sent delegates to the Convention. Of the original 13 colonies, North Carolina and Rhode Island were the last holdouts — and because they refused to ratify the Constitution by April 6, 1789, neither state got to participate in the election of George Washington, who was otherwise elected unanimously to be the nation’s first President.
After the new Congress finally approved the inclusion of the first ten amendments on November 21, 1789 (what would come to be known as the Bill of Rights), North Carolina became the second-to-last of the original thirteen colonies to ratify the United States Constitution. Rhode Island begrudgingly agreed on May 29, 1790 — a month and a half after Benjamin Franklin passed away at 84.
Only 39 of the 55 original delegates ended up signing the constitution. Edmund Randolph refused to sign the final document, as did Elbridge Gerry (of “gerrymandering” fame) and George Mason, the father of the Bill of Rights. Thirteen of the delegates lost interest entirely and went home.
2011 Session
January 26, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
The Honorable James G. Martin
(former Governor of the State of North Carolina)
Thank you. It’s good to be back.
Since I told a reporter, I will disclose, as required by law, that I am here as a lobbyist unregistered before the Kingdom of Heaven.
Would you bow your heads?
Gracious, Eternal and All-provident God, Creator of the Universe and everything in it, Sustainer of Life: we thank You and praise You for the many blessings You have brought to enrich our lives, the blessings of families and friends, the communities of faith from which we come, the bounty and beauty of nature all around us, the majesty of this State which has called us to serve and the glory of this one Nation under God and its blessings of liberty for all.
We remember and pray for those all we love who are absent, whose lives have been an inspiration and example for ours. Look now upon these Your servants, guide their minds and prepare their hearts for the difficult decisions and responsibilities that await them that they might serve Your people well and nobly.
We make our prayers each in his own way, for many of us in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
January 27, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Tricia Cotham
Please bow your heads.
Gracious and Loving God, we come before You today in thanks for a great opening day yesterday. God, we ask You to bless every Member of this Chamber, and we ask You to especially be with our new Members and our new Speaker and all of our families. Wrap Your loving arms around us, guide us and comfort us as we begin our duties. We have tough decisions ahead of us and we will need Your grace, Your wisdom and Your comfort. We thank You for calling us to be Your servants and never let us forget that we are here to serve You and all of the great people across our beloved State.
In Your Precious Name we pray. Amen.
January 31, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marilyn Avila
Let us pray.
Our Gracious Heavenly Father, as we come here tonight, we honor You as our Creator God. We thank You first for the many blessings that You have showered upon us: first and foremost this great land that we live in and the freedoms that we enjoy, for the State of North Carolina that we have been asked to lead. We ask now that You would give us the knowledge of the issues that face us. We ask that You would give us the wisdom to apply the knowledge as we make the laws for this land.
We praise You and thank You for the many blessings that You have poured down upon us–the safety that each one of us had in coming here tonight. And we just ask Your power and glory to shine over our families that we’ve left behind and that You would strengthen each one of us as we work here today through this week.
In Your Name and Your Son’s Holy Word we ask it. Amen.
February 1, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative William Wainwright
Let us pray.
O Lord our God, we are grateful for this another day and we ask Your blessings on us as Your public servants and the servants of Your people. As we gather to do Your will and the work of the people of this State, we ask for Your constant presence and direction in this legislative process. Judge each heart and mind as we deliberate on the issues of the day and provide us with individual and collective guidance. Give us courage to stand up for that which is right and open the eyes of our faith to Your will, for it is only with You as our focus that we truly see clearly.
For it’s in the Name above every name that we pray. Amen.
February 2, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Phil Shepard
Let us pray.
Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your many blessings. We thank You for the opportunity to serve the people of North Carolina. We pray that You will grant us wisdom and guidance in all our decisions today. We pray for our communities, State and Nation. Your Word says, “If My people which are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Lord, this is our desire today that You heal our Nation. Lord, we also ask that You protect our military men and women that are defending our freedoms and our Nation overseas. We ask You to put a hedge of protection around them.
We pray for Your blessings as we conduct business today. May all that is said and done today bring glory and honor to You. All this we ask in the Precious Name of Jesus. Amen.
February 3, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Angela Bryant
My prayer today will be from the words of the last verse of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the “Negro National Anthem.” This was written as a poem in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson–a prolific writer, lawyer, diplomat, educator and composer–and set to music in 1905 by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. The poem was first publicly performed in the celebration of Lincoln’s birthday on February 12, 1900, and performed by 500 school children as a part of the introduction of their special guest, Booker T. Washington. James Weldon Johnson was the school principal at the time. Let us pray.
“God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.”
Amen.
(Excerpt from “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” by James Weldon Johnson)
February 7, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative and Eagle Scout Bert Jones
Let us pray.
Our Father and our God, we come humbly now before You, first, as individuals You have created in Your own image. We also come collectively as this elected Body representing the citizens of our State.
We pray this evening, and always, for wisdom and discernment that comes from You alone. We acknowledge that according to Your Word, the beginning of wisdom is indeed the reverential fear of the Lord. Even the beginning of knowledge is also the fear of the Lord.
Father, we pray that our agenda would always be to stand for truth and righteousness. And to that end, we celebrate the stated values of the Boy Scouts of America as we honor its anniversary today. The Boy Scout Promise begins: “On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty, to God…” May that promise be our prayer, as well.
We offer our prayer each in our own way, many of us, including myself, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 8, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Tom Murry
Please meditate with me over Psalm 101.
“I will sing of mercy and judgment;
unto Thee, O LORD, will I sing.
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.
O when wilt Thou come unto me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes;
I hate the work of them that turn aside;
it shall not cleave to me.
A froward heart shall depart from me;
I will not know a wicked person.
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off;
him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he that walketh in a perfect way,
he shall serve me.
He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house;
he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
I will early destroy all the wicked of the land;
that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.”
Amen.
February 9, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Harry Warren
Let us pray.
O God, as we gather to conduct the affairs of our great State, we ask Your guidance to remember that we are here to serve those who elected us rather than to have them serve us. Help us to do Your will and to glorify You in all we do for those we serve. Keep us humble, keep us pure in heart, and keep us focused on what is best for our State and for our Country. Bless us, O God, that we might be a blessing to others.
These things we pray, many of us, in Christ’s Holy Name. Amen.
February 10, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jimmy Dixon
Let us pray.
Our kind Father in Heaven, we pause at the beginning of this Session, to give Thee thanks for the very favorable circumstances under which we assemble and for these fine facilities in which we meet.
We thank Thee for the wonderful freedoms and liberties that we enjoy in America and for the opportunity to serve the people of North Carolina. We are grateful for the divinely inspired constitutions of America and North Carolina, that set forth conditions under which we can legally and lawfully conduct the people’s business. We are thankful for and acknowledge the efforts of our freedom loving forefathers who toiled long and hard that we might be their beneficiaries receiving the fruits of their labors.
We thank Thee for this beautiful Earth that Thou hast created for us, Thy children, and acknowledge Thy hand in all the good things in our lives.
We thank Thee for those past and present who have served in various military services and for efforts in this Chamber to remind us of the real cost of freedom.
Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the most precious gift ever given, the gift of Thy Son to atone for our sins.
Please accept these expressions of gratitude and thankfulness as we express them to Thee. Bless each of us individually and this Assembly collectively with an abundance of Thy Spirit as we proceed to conduct the people’s business.
Each of us closing this petition to Thee in our own way, some of us in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 14, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
If you would, please bow with me.
Lord, on this day of love, of flowers, cards, and candy, I’m drawn to Your Word and challenged by the love You have modeled for us. You tell us that “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” O Lord, may we all aspire to love one another so well! Amen.
February 15, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Glazier
O God, who blessed our ancestors, source of strength in every generation: to the sick and suffering please send healing and hope, to the forgotten and lonely send the gift of love, to the weary and the wrong send renewed strength, to the confused and distressed send light, to the pursuers of justice send wisdom and courage and to the seekers of peace send vision and resolve.
Inspire all who lead and serve to conduct their affairs honorably and with compassion. May peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom abide among us. Unite the inhabitants of our State and Nation of all backgrounds and creed so that we may banish hatred and bigotry. Safeguard our noblest ideals and preserve those institutions which nurture liberty.
And finally, God, may our State be an influence for good throughout the world helping unite all peoples in peace and freedom and bring us closer to the fulfillment of the vision that “nation should not lift up sword against nation and neither shall they learn war anymore.”
And let us say, Amen.
February 16, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Patsy Keever
Thank you. Could we bow our heads please?
“May the Power of Love,
From whatever source…
In whomever’s name…
Bring us together in mind and spirit
So that we may be guided to do our work today
Supported and inspired by Love.
In the name of all that is holy…
Amen.”
February 17, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marilyn Avila
Please join me in prayer.
Our Great Creator God, we stand before You, awed and humbled by the unearned mercy and grace You have bestowed upon us, Your creation. Each of us has come to this place today by our own unique path, guided by Your hand, but united in one purpose–to serve honorably and well the people of North Carolina. Make us ever mindful of those who have gone before us and grateful for the legacy they have passed to us. We ask for Your wisdom, mercy, and love as we struggle with the difficult decisions before us so that we may continue their legacy of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for our citizens.
Let us be especially in prayer today for the men and women serving our country at home and abroad. Place a mighty hedge of protection around each and every one of them and their families as they stand in harm’s way to protect and preserve our Nation.
This I pray in the Holy Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 21, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Blust
Thank you. If you will, bow with me.
Heavenly Father, we just thank You that we can come together with these proceedings and a nation as great as You have given us and You blessed us richly. And we thank You for having an Assembly like this where those who are elected come to serve those who elected them in open proceedings.
And Father, we ask Your hand upon these proceedings this day and this week as we try to grapple with problems sometimes that seem greater than we can handle. We ask Your wisdom and Your guidance upon these proceedings.
We also ask Your blessings upon those who are overseas in harm’s way protecting our way of life and our freedom. We ask Your hand and shield upon them.
And again, we just thank You for blessing us beyond what we deserve. And we humbly pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
February 22, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bill Cook
My pastor, Dr. James Moore, prepared this prayer. May we pray.
“O God, You are the fountain of all wisdom, the Author of all truth, and the Creator of all that is good and gracious. You have given us this great land for our heritage. We humbly pray that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Your favor and ready to do Your will. Save us from violence, pride, discord, and from every evil way. Help us to be quick to defend our liberties, and fashion us into a united people who are eager and ready to do Your will.
“We ask this day that You might guide us as we enact laws and care for the business of our State, that our work might be pleasing in Your sight and beneficial to those we serve. Grant us wisdom and grace in the exercise of our duties. Fill our hearts today with thanksgiving, and in the day of trouble help us to ever trust in You.
“Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
February 23, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Bell
Let us pray.
Our Father and our God, we thank You for this day and for all of the blessings of this life. We have gathered here once again in this Chamber to serve our constituents who have entrusted us to work for their interest and well-being.
Please endow us with more wisdom, knowledge and understanding so that we may better perform our duties and carry out our many responsibilities in ways that will be pleasing to You. We pray that You will continue to enlighten us with Your Spirit. Guide our thoughts and control our lives, so that we may always be a servant to You and all mankind. Amen.
February 24, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marcus Brandon
Let us pray.
Dear Father God, we thank You for the opportunity of prayer. We thank You for the many blessings that You have bestowed on this Body, our State, and our Country. We ask that You continue to bless us and bless this Body as we do the people’s work. We ask for traveling mercies as we all travel back to our homes today, and we ask for continued blessings for the staff, Sergeant of Arms, pages, and the Clerk’s staff that makes us do what we do every day. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
February 28, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Kelly Alexander
Let us pray.
“God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.”
God Bless North Carolina and the deliberation of the North Carolina General Assembly. Amen.
March 1, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Alice Bordsen
Mr. Speaker, members and guests, I long for the House to have a chaplain again–a thoughtful person who stands apart from us, but who understands this strange world in which we work, and each day crafts a prayer that is grounded in what we have in common, what joins us rather than separates us, a prayer that provides a moment of respite and reflection between the struggles and the stress of our morning and the debates of our afternoon.
And in that vein I have chosen a prayer to read–a prayer offered by our last chaplain, the Rev. James H. Harry. If you keep your booklet of accumulated prayers in the chamber, I am reading from the 2005-2006 booklet, page 37, June 6. So join me in reading, if you like to, but let us pray.
“Almighty God, we are quite bold to come before You asking for Your divine guidance given the simple fact that everything You created and called ‘good,’ we have found a way to destroy. You created the earth for us to enjoy, and we have enjoyed it to the point where we endanger it. You gave us the beasts of the fields and the birds of the air to name, and we have named many into extinction while endangering countless others. You gave us each other to befriend and to enjoy, and we have even created divisions amongst ourselves– division that brings war, open hostility and argumentative debate.
“Yes indeed, Lord, we are quite bold to come before You, but we come anyway. And we come because, even in spite of our frailties and failures, You beckon us to come. Thus, it is right and good that we seek Thee and beseech Thy endless mercy. May it be granted unto us, we humbly pray. Amen.”
Book of Prayers – June 6, 2005
Rev. James Harry, House Chaplain
March 2, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Martha Alexander
Let us pray.
O God, our Heavenly Father, Eternal and Loving Creator, give us strength and courage to meet our duties each day. Grant us wisdom and foresight as we debate the issues. Give us compassion for those whom we serve. Guide us through the maze of issues which are before us as we collectively serve all of the citizens of North Carolina. Grant us humility and patience as we work together to build community so that the laws we enact may be ones of truth, charity and justice, and fill us with joy, grace and an inner peace as we go about our daily tasks. Amen.
March 3, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Marilyn M. Suitt
(Member of the General Assembly staff)
Let us pray.
Dear Lord, we thank You for all of our many blessings and for the many opportunities that we have to serve You. Please bless our leaders as they assemble here each day. Guide their minds and hearts as they work for the good of this State and Your people. Allow them to be generous in their outlook, courageous in face of difficulty and wise in their decisions. In Your awesome and special ways, please grant favor to all staff.
Please bless our great State and Country and help us always to remember that we are one Nation under God. These things we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
March 7, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Glen Bradley
May we all now come before the Lord, each in our own way, and grant us an accord in prayer.
O Gracious Heavenly Father and Almighty God, we come before You tonight bowed of head and bowed in heart, humbling ourselves before the altar of love and truth. May it please You, Lord, to open Your face to us as we open our hearts to You, and guide us along the way of mercy, truth, and right as we represent our constituents who sent us here today.
May it please You, Lord, to grant us the vision to discern what is true, give us the wisdom to understand the cause and effects of policy, and award us the courage to do what is right for the United States, the State of North Carolina and the people of our constituent districts.
May it please You, Lord, to allow us the humble honor of truly representing the will and the voices of the many peoples of our home districts and work towards creating a government and an environment that every one of us can be proud to leave to future generations.
A passage in our most common creed teaches that, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes,” as recited from Proverbs 21.
Bless us together as one family in God, with the lives of North Carolinians in our hearts, and dwelling in the mind of One, whom many of us know as Jesus Christ. Here then, in one accord, may we pass our own hearts into the will of God. All ye present now who stand in agreement, let us say, amen.”
March 8, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Alma Adams
This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Let us pray.
Father God, we come today with thanksgiving in our hearts, thanking You for many blessings of life, health, strength and prosperity, realizing, dear God, that what You’ve done for us has not been for cause of any good or gracious thing that we might have done in return, but knowing, our Father, that You’ve spared us along this journey and You’ve chosen favor on us simply because of Your mercy and Your grace.
So today we thank You for Your tender, loving mercy and Your grace, Lord, for the high honor and the privilege of serving Your people. We are most thankful for those blessings today and every day. Grant us wisdom to do what is right, not because of political expediency, but because it is indeed the right thing to do. Grant us compassion enough to always show concern for all people, especially the least of these. Give us a mind to do Your work in a way that is both pleasing to You and respectful of those lives You have entrusted in our care. And help us always to respect each other, and the differences and diversity that we bring to this body.
Where we’re weak, dear God, give us strength; where we’re torn down, lift us up. In these difficult times of turmoil and financial hardship for so many people in our State, grant us diligence, persistence and the will to make a positive impact on the quality of their lives. Give us direction in all of our deliberations, and grant us kindness enough to show commitment to our duties in service by being true humanitarians for Christ, knowing in the end that, of all that we attempt to do, only what we do for Christ will last.
We come this day, we bring these petitions, in the Precious Name of Your Son Jesus and for His sake. Amen.
March 9, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jennifer Weiss
Today I would like to offer a pray of thanks from my faith tradition. Let us pray.
“….We give thanks
for the gift of life, wonder beyond words;
for the awareness of soul, our light within;
for the world around us, so filled with beauty;
for the richness of the earth, which day by day sustains us;
for all these and more, we offer thanks.” Amen.
(The Siddur for Reform Jewish Prayer Services for Shabbat Worship)
March 10, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Deborah Ross
When I was first elected I had the great fortune of having probably one of this State’s greatest ministers as a constituent, Reverend W.W. Finlator. We even did a resolution honoring him in this General Assembly. As a gift when I first got elected, his wife Mary Lib Finlator shared with me a book of prayers that she uses for different occasions. I went through that book and found one that I thought would be particularly appropriate for this General Assembly. So this is thanks to Mary Lib Finlator.
“O God of children and clowns, martyrs and bishops, saints and sinners, thank You for this day with its chance to love and hope, and laugh and look at the dogwood in all of its glory. Thank You for friends who make a claim upon our hearts; for teachers who open our minds to new and wondrous thoughts; for musicians who help us sing along the way; for people who take stands rather than polls; for leaders who do something rather than talk about everything; for those who disturb our consciences and nudge us from our comfortable positions; for those who attempt beauty rather than curse ugliness. And thank You for all those brave soldiers of peace everywhere who risk their lives that others may have food and a safe resting place. Amen.”
March 14, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative William Brawley
Those who will, join me in prayer.
Father, we give You thanks for this glorious day. Help us to see the beauty You give us every day and to remember, as we feel the warm sun on our face, to accept the joys You give us.
As we gather in this Chamber tonight, we ask that You clear our hearts and minds so that we can see Your will and do it. Grant us the wisdom to serve our State in such a manner that when we leave this place, North Carolina will be better for our having been here.
We each come to You in our own way, many of us in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
March 15, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ray Rapp
Members and visitors, in my church’s tradition the prayer leader begins prayer with the words, “The Lord be with you.” And the people respond, “And also with you.” Please join me at the opening of the prayer by saying “and also with you” after my opening.
The Lord be with you.
(Response): And also with you.
Let us pray.
God of Love…
Spirit of understanding…
Creator of the Universe…
Give us wisdom and strength to do Your will.
Grant us unwavering commitments to justice, stewardship and service, And make us ever mindful of the needs of others.
In Your Name we pray.
Amen.
March 16, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Glazier
“What does it really mean to hear each other?
The person who attends a concert with his mind on business, Hears–but does not really hear.
The person who walks amidst the songs of birds
And thinks only of what he will have for dinner,
Hears–but does not really hear.
The man who listens to the words of his friends, or his wife or his child And does not catch the note of urgency,
Hears–but does not really hear.
The person who listens to the news of the day
And thinks only of how it will affect their bank account, Hears–but does not really hear.
The person who stifles the sound of her conscience
And tells herself she has done enough already for others, Hears–but does not really hear.
The person who listens to a sermon And thinks someone else is being addressed, Hears–but does not really hear.
During this session, Lord, please strengthen all of our ability to hear.
May we all hear the music of the world and the child’s cry and the colleague’s sigh. May we all hear the call for help of any lonely soul and the sound of all breaking hearts. May we hear the words of our friends and also their unspoken pleas and dreams.
And may we hear within ourselves the yearnings that are struggling always for expression. And may we hear You, Lord, as well.
For only if we hear You
Do we have the right to hope that You hear us.
So today hear our promises that we make to You to do what is in the best interest of all the people of our State, this Country, and the world, and may we hear them, too.”
Amen.
(Adapted from “Listen,” by Rabbis Jack Riemer and Harold Kushner)
March 17, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ken Goodman
St. Patrick was Ireland’s patron saint, and one of the Church’s most beloved missionaries. It is appropriate today that we hear St. Patrick’s prayer that can truly inspire us and ask for divine assistance in living each day.
“May the Strength of God pilot us.
May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Host of God guard us. Against the snares of the evil ones. Against temptations of the world
This day, O Lord, and Forevermore. Amen.”
(Adapted from St. Patrick’s Prayer for the Faithful)
March 21, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Craig Horn
Please let us go to God in prayer.
Dear Lord, Father in Heaven, we again gather in this House to do the people’s business. It is therefore Your business that we do, O Lord.
We humbly ask that You grant us objectivity and sound realism that will guide us to a clear path of that which seems the best. Grant that we may not deviate from what is right for the good of all in favor of what is easy or unjust. Grant us an unwavering loyalty to our people, to be firm to our adherence to the principles that we openly profess, to the noble resolve to stand above ourselves, and be without corruption and selfish ambition. Help us to be calm in our deliberations, immune from passion except that which is inspired by truth. We seek Your guidance for the challenges ahead and beg forgiveness for our missteps of the past.
Our hearts are filled with sorrow and grief for the events of this past week. We pray for those in Japan that have suffered and continue to suffer, those in Libya that are caught up in a civil war born out of oppression and lust for power. Our hearts are with our brave young men and women in service to our country and the cause of freedom around the world, most especially in armed conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq, among many other places about which we are not aware.
We are commanded to do what is revealed to us in the Old Testament–Micah 6:8: “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God.” In our own little way, dear God, we endeavor to imitate the rectitude which thy Providence does direct and govern for Thy greater glory and for the well-being of human society.
Hear us, O Lord, in order that our minds may never be without Thy light, nor our wills without Thy strength. Keep us far from human ambition and inspire in us a regard for justice. And finally, O Lord, we ask that You guide and direct us as You hold each of us in the hollow of Your hand. Amen.
March 22, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Grier Martin
Please bow your heads with me in prayer.
God, we come to You in prayer strained under the burden of serving Your people in tough times. Let us be humbled by this duty placed upon us. We thank You for this free form of government where the people govern, not a dictator; where we come to this place to resolve our differences, not through violence, but through peaceful deliberation.
At the same time, Lord, You know that even this peaceful deliberation could put a strain on those of us who serve here. We ask Your help to sustain us through these trying times. As we deliberate, grant us the courage to advocate for what we believe is right, and help us follow Your example of love as we seek to reconcile ourselves to those with whom we disagree.
Though serving the people can be tough, Lord, help us remember in humility that others are sacrificing much more to give us this freedom. Keep them safe as they serve in much tougher, less peaceful conditions throughout the world. Bring them home to their families and care for their wounds of body and of mind.
Lord, as this one Christian comes to You praying in Jesus’ Name, we give You thanks for our freedom as Americans to worship as Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Muslim, Hindu and so many other ways. We give You thanks for this and the many other freedoms we enjoy in this great Nation and great State. Amen.
March 23, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jennifer Weiss
Today I would like to share one of my favorite prayers, a prayer of peace. Let us pray.
“May we find peace with those we love, growing together over time.
May we be at peace with ourselves
and with the labors that fill our days.
May we render peace in our world
with wisdom and gentle patience.
May we be at peace with the source;
Let understanding come our way. Blessed are You, Eternal One, Source of Peace.” Amen.
(The Siddur for Reform Jewish Prayer)
March 24, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jerry Dockham
Would you bow your head with me?
Sundown
Hills, wrapped in gray, standing along the west; Clouds, dimly lighted, gathering slowly;
The star of peace at watch above the crest– Oh, holy, holy, holy!
We know, O Lord, so little what is best; Wingless, we move so lowly;
But in thy calm all-knowledge let us rest– Oh holy, holy, holy!”
Amen.
(Written by John Charles McNeill, who was a member in the North Carolina Legislature in the early 1900s, and winner of the 1905 Patterson Cup for Literary Excellence.)
March 28, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Susan Fisher
Good evening, Members. In the tradition of another of my colleagues when he came to give the prayer–Representative Rapp–I would like to ask you when I say, “The Lord be with you,” to respond, “And also with you.” This is a prayer from Jim Cotter’s Out of the Silence.
The Lord be with you.
(Response): And also with you.
Let us pray.
“Living God, may we encounter You this day
In the laughter of children,
In the skills of those who create,
In the pauses of the elderly,
In the patience of those who teach,
In the loyalty of friends,
In the dedication of those who serve,
In the exuberance of animals,
In those willing to make fools of themselves. May we be Your blessing to one another. Amen.”
March 29, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ray Rapp
Members and visitors, as we did last evening with Representative Fisher, I’d like to open the prayer by saying, “The Lord be with you,” and if you would respond by saying, “And also with you.”
The Lord be with you.
(Response): And also with you.
Let us pray.
Lord, we are thankful for the beauty of North Carolina–its people and its resources. We celebrate its natural beauty from the melting snows in the Great Smoky Mountains to the sparkling warm sands of Ocracoke Island’s beaches.
We are thankful for the blessings of spring–the greening of the grass, the flowering of the gardens and trees, the singing of the birds. We are thankful that You use this season to remind us about rebirth and renewal and Your love for all creation.
We are thankful for the prayerful support of North Carolina’s nine and one-half million citizens. We are thankful for our families who support our work here and at home. We are thankful for the models of leadership we see around us: servant-leaders who govern with integrity, strong principles and great compassion.
Grant us the wisdom and courage to love and serve You, our families and the people of this State. Make us ever mindful of the needs of others. Give us the wisdom to recognize the dignity and worth of all individuals, and guide us away from partisanship that closes our hearts and minds to those with differing points of view.
In Your Name we pray. Amen.
March 30, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Karon Hardy
(Legislative Assistant for Representative Angela Bryant)
Dear Heavenly Father, we bow before You with humbled hearts, thanking You for this new day filled with Your grace and mercy. Thank You for each and every person that You have placed here during this time and season.
Give every Legislator eyes to see Your truths and ears to hear Your voice. Only You know what is just. Give them discernment and revelation to make godly choices. Enable them to see clearly the consequences of decisions that are not pleasing to You. Cover them with Your love and teach them to demonstrate love one to another.
All these things I ask in Your Name. Amen.
March 31, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jean Farmer-Butterfield
Please join me in prayer.
Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, our Shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal Home: we come before You humbly and in thanksgiving for the blessings bestowed upon us individually, as a State, and as a Nation.
We are especially thankful for this legislative Body and for the privileges of serving our fellow citizens. Make us mindful of the opportunity which is ours to make a difference in the lives of so many. Grant us an attitude of good faith, wise counsel, fellowship and devotion. We are acutely aware of the many challenges we face in this State: economic, social and educational.
Internationally, we are aware of the natural disaster in Japan, and turmoil and strife in the Middle East. In times such as now, we need guidance and wisdom to make decisions that will help us to manage our struggles, both personal and legislatively. Help us become more conscious of our needs, the needs of our neighbors, in this Body, in our State, Nation and the world.
Be with us as we discuss, explain, and debate matters before this Body and conduct the affairs of the people of North Carolina. Inspire us to solve the problems of our State, help us to create an atmosphere of kindness, courtesy and respect for one another and each other’s ideals. Help us to resist any temptation to dominate, control or forget the needs of all. Grant us a sense of justice and stewardship, now and forever. Amen.
April 4, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Becky Carney
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, if you will join me for a moment of silence and if you will reflect inwardly on your life to this point where you are today. And then if you will reflect on the celebration of life as we are moving forward into this season for some of us in our religious beliefs. And if you also will reflect on the incredible job and honor that has been bestowed on each and every one of us in this Chamber.
Thank you. Let us pray.
We ask for your guidance, dear God, as we as individuals seek Your will and Your guidance, for it is not our lives, but Yours. Amen.
April 5, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rayne Brown
This is a compilation of prayers that have been prayed over us many times by Reverend Glenn Sanford, Westside Baptist Church in Lexington, and Mrs. Hudspeth from Winston- Salem.
“Dear Lord, we know that we are in this place at this time only by Your will. We have tasks before us in the coming weeks and months that will take all the strength and fortitude we can summon. We ask that You be with us every minute of every day. We ask for guidance, and for wisdom and for Your protection.
You tell us in Your Word, ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’ (II Chronicles 7:14) May those in this Assembly who know Your Name and those in this State who are called by Your Name humble themselves and pray and seek You.
Please give us a servant’s heart, a humble heart that always acknowledges what a privilege and a blessing it is to serve the people of this extraordinary State. Help us give them the best that is within us to give.
We ask all this in Your Name, Lord, the Creator of all things good–of all that ever was, of all that is and of all that will ever be. Amen.”
(Taken from prayers by the Reverend Glenn Sanford of Lexington and Nanci Hudspeth from Winston-Salem)
April 6, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Nelson Dollar
This prayer will end with a traditional North Carolina blessing followed by a call, and the answer to that call will be a heartfelt, “Amen.” Let us join in prayer to the One Almighty and Living God.
Lord, our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer: we thank You for Your grace and we ask for Your blessing on this House. While our words may clash and the debate swing to and fro, Lord, You know our hearts. We are all here under Your divine authority, united in our desire to faithfully serve Your people. Give us strength for today and faith in Your providence for tomorrow.
Lord, as the sweetener hides in the tea so let us hide in Thee. And all God’s people said: Amen.
April 7, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative James H. Langdon, Jr.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, bless us with Your Spirit as we serve You and North Carolina in our capacity as Representatives. O God, bless us with wisdom and understanding as we serve the people of North Carolina. Grant us patience and insight as we work together to pass legislation for the citizens.
May we bless You with our willingness to serve You and our fellow man. May we demonstrate this day and every day our love for You in how we conduct ourselves with respect and appreciation for one another.
O God, it is our aim to make our world a better place; however, we are only human and need Your guidance to accomplish such a high goal. Bless us with that ability.
In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
April 11, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bill McGee
Join me in humbling ourselves in meditation and prayer.
Scripture tells us in II Chronicles, Chapter 16, verse 9, God casts his eyes continuously throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. So then, God, the question arises from Your people–shall not we seek a way to have our hearts become more perfect toward You?
Then in Isaiah, Chapter 55, verse 6, Your Word says to call upon You while You are near, to call upon You while You can still hear. How disconcerting–that we could call, and we would have moved too far away for You to hear!
I believe, though, that we have not moved so far from You that You can’t hear. So with confidence, I call upon You and offer as my fervent prayer:
Enlighten a pathway for us to follow which will make our hearts perfect toward You, and urge us onward when we falter. Then God, after following Your path, when we offer our praise and ask for Your help, You will joyfully show Yourself strong in our behalf because our hearts will be perfect toward You. And most importantly then, at last, our requests will be just. Amen.
April 12, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Former House Chaplain James Harry
Almighty God, acknowledging that all good things come from You, we pause this afternoon in this historic place and on this historic day to give You thanks for the full measure of divine blessings You have seen fit to bestow upon this great State. We are proud to call ourselves North Carolinians and pray that in doing so, in some small measure, we are displaying gratitude for this great gift we call home.
Difficult times have always required leaders to step up and lead. Fortunately for us, we are not alone, as throughout human history You have seen fit to raise up men and women, such as these gathered in this Chamber, to answer the call to servant leadership. Grant upon these men and women, O God, the full measure of Your wisdom, intellect and humility in order to effectively and expediently dispatch the necessary leadership for these times in which we live.
In all things, through all things and for all things we give You thanks and we humbly pray for Your continued blessings upon us and the good people of the Old North State. Amen.
April 14, 2011
The following prayer if offered by
Representative G.L. Pridgen
First, I would like to say to each of you it’s an honor to serve here with the leaders and Members and staff of this Body, and I’ve tried to pray for everyone here every day.
The prayer I’m going to offer is the one from the first prayer in the First Continental Congress, delivered by Reverend Jacob Duché, Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1774. Please bow your heads.
“Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable Assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions here represented, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the Name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior. Amen.”
First Prayer of the Continental Congress, 1774
Reverend Jacob Duché
April 16, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jennifer Weiss
Good morning. As this is going to be a very short session I thought I would give you a very short prayer.
Thank you, God, for giving us life, for sustaining us and bringing us to this day. Amen.
April 18, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Verla Insko
Members, I chose Monday night to lead the prayer because I like the beginning that we have on Monday night. It’s a time we come back for another week to work together. And this Monday is very different because of the storms that hit our counties. Many back home are suffering and many of our members are there with them tonight, as they should be. So as we begin this week, I would ask that you please respond to let us acknowledge God’s presence with us here now.
The Lord be with you.
(Response): And also with you.
Let us pray together.
God, we are hurting; our hearts are torn. We come to You tonight in supplication, seeking Your special care and love for those who lost so much this weekend. We seek solace for those who lost children and loved ones, friends and neighbors. We seek protection for those who lost their homes, their schools, their jobs, their sense of safety and security. We seek strength and wisdom for the community leaders as they begin the long rebuilding.
Our lives are changed forever. We grieve with our constituents at home. We bring them to You; we hold them in the light. Even as we grieve, God, we are reminded of Your incredible powers of love and renewal. We see compassion among those who reach out to comfort. We witness courage among the hurt and bereaved. We sense purpose within communities to rebuild.
We take heart, God, in this season of renewal when this world around us blooms with new growth and new energy, and we pray that that same urge to thrive will provide comfort and relief and hope in the days ahead.
As we begin this week, God, set our feet on Your path. Amen.
April 19, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dewey Hill
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, I selected this prayer prior to the storm we had this weekend. I know that a lot of folks are suffering from property damage and even loss of life, so I hope we’ll keep them in our prayers. Let’s go back to April 18, 1995, sixteen years ago, the ‘95 Session of the General Assembly. Harold Brubaker was Speaker of the House and Reverend William T. Mills was the House Chaplain. This is a prayer he offered that day. Let us pray.
“Father, thank You for the gift of life today and for the men and women who make up this Body. They are capable, able and focused on serving the people of their districts.
I’ve been thinking some, Father, about a recipe for making a Representative. I think that I would give him the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, the strength of Samson and the hide of an alligator. Mix in equal proportions of the courage of a lion and the gentleness of a lamb. Anoint him with the insight and perception of a Daniel. Put just a pinch of peacock to make him strut a little. And then, I would burst up his heart a time or two to give him feeling and compassion. After that, I would get him elected and send him to Raleigh and give him a job so hard that nobody could do it without Your help to teach him faith. Then I would sit back, pray for him and watch him work.
Seems to me like that’s that I’m doing, Father, so bless their working and help me with my praying. We make our prayers in the Name of the Lord. Amen.”
April 20, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Danny McComas
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of the House, visitors, this is a very special prayer for me. I keep a little card in my car, and at times when things are trying you just pull it out and read it to yourself. It’s been around for a long time. Let’s bow our heads. It’s the Prayer of St. Francis.
“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”
(Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi)
April 21, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dan Ingle
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Members, honored guests. Let us pray.
God and most Gracious Heavenly Father: we just thank You, Lord, for just everything You do for us. Lord, we thank You for being there always in our time of need and our times of joy.
Father, as we come to you now, Lord, we just lift up the poor souls who have lost family members, lost their property, and have family members that are injured. Lord, we just pray for them now. Lord, we thank You for being the mighty Physician; we know You can heal and we pray for the healing for those that were injured. Comfort those, Lord, at this time, those that were hurt and injured and killed in the tornado, and the families.
Father, I do pray for members of our service oversees for freedom for us, serving in our military. Lord, may You just place that mighty veil of safety over them and keep them safe and bring them back to us.
And Lord I do pray for the members of this General Assembly. Lord, we just pray that as we make the decisions that affect those that we serve, our citizens, Lord, we ask for Your divine guidance during this time. And, Father, we thank You for loving us.
And these things I do pray in Your most Precious Heavenly Name. Amen.
April 25, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Pat Hurley
Let us bow our heads, please.
Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for this beautiful, beautiful day You have given us. We thank You for the job that You have allowed us to take and try to do the will of our people. We ask that You give us wisdom in everything that we do and all the decisions that we make and please be with us as we go through this week. Amen.
April 26, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Kelly Hastings
Today, instead of a prayer, I will read a segment from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. “My kingdom is not from this world.” John 18:36.
“The great enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ in the present day is the conception of practical work that has not come from the New Testament, but from the systems of the world in which endless energy and activities are insisted upon, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing…An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.
“…The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
“…You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in too much activity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.”
(Excerpts from “My Utmost for His Highest,” by Oswald Chambers)
April 27, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marvin Lucas
It is stated in the Scriptures that “where two or three are gathered in my Name” we be honored. One of my favorite passages of scripture comes from the Apostle Paul in Corinthians. It is a very familiar scripture that we all would know. Corinthians, 13th Chapter:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up;
doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth. But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known.”
Amen.
April 28, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Womble
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
“Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.”
(A portion of “Invictus,” by William Ernest Henley.)
Let us pray.
Dear God, we adore and appreciate You for this day that You have allowed us to see. It is not by our own strength that we are here, but it is only by Your precious grace and mercy.
Father, we would also ask that You guide us as we serve to the best of our abilities here in this Chamber. Help us to make the best decisions possible that will help all North Carolinians live the best and fullest life possible. Father, we thank You in advance for all that You are doing and will continue to do for this great State and the citizens of this great State of North Carolina. Amen.
May 2, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Phil Haire
As we begin the first day of the first week of a new month, as we pause to give thanks for our many blessings, as we remember our neighbors suffering from the spring-time storms, let us turn to the Book of Psalms for hope and comfort. Let us pray.
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the LORD, who made Heaven and Earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
“O give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; talk of all His wondrous works. Glory in His Holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD…Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.” (Psalm 105:1-3, 5)
“I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done…that the generations to come might know them, even the children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.” (Psalm 78:2-4, 6-7)
“He shall judge Thy people with righteousness, and Thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people; he will save the children of the needy; he will break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear Thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.” (Psalm 72:2-5)
“In Thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never put to confusion. Deliver me in righteousness, and cause me to escape; incline Thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort; Thou hast given commandment to save me, for Thou art my rock and fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For Thou art my hope, O LORD GOD; thou art my trust from my youth…O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth, and heretofore have I declared Thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not, until I have shown Thy strength unto this generation and Thy power to everyone that is to come.” (Psalm 71:1-5, 17-18)
“Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.” (Psalm 49:1-3)
“In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness.” (Psalm 31:1)
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:7-8) “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law doth he meditate night and day.” (Psalm 1:1-2)
“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou has made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet…O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:3-6, 9)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer,” (Psalm 19:14)
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the LORD, who made Heaven and Earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
Amen.
May 3, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative William A. Current, Sr.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please join with me in prayer.
Almighty God, we bow our heads before You, recognizing Your glory and wonder, and the blessing of prayer You bestow upon us. We come to You mindful of the devastation and suffering experienced recently by so many. While storms have resulted in the loss of life, property, and the sense of security, we know You are the Shelter in the storm. Hold Your people in the palm of Your hand and let them know Your profound love.
Heavenly Father, throughout time You have been a God of love and also a God of justice. Thank You for all those who have dedicated themselves to bringing justice to the world’s leading terrorist. Let us not forget the lives, the innocence, and the individual liberties we lost nearly ten years ago. We pray this victory provides some comfort to our Nation and to the loved ones of 9/11.
Great God, Your divine wisdom goes beyond all understanding. Humbly we seek to set a path for this great State and meet the political challenges of this our day. You set an example for our discourse through Your Son. While it is right to be passionate in our calls to serve, let us remember this commandment to ‘love one another.’
Lord, lead us now as we occupy these seats of honor and service. Grant us humility in order to learn, discernment in order to decide, and hope to build a better tomorrow. Forgive us where we fall short and let all that is good be to Your glory.
In His Name we pray. Amen.
May 4, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative David Lewis
Let us pray.
Dear Lord, thank You for the divine providence You have freely given during this continuing 235-year exercise in self-government undertaken by the people of the United States.
Thank You, Lord, for pouring out Your blessings on the State on North Carolina. From the majestic peaks of our mountains to the rolling hills to the peaceful serene coastline, surely You have given tremendous beauty and worked Your will upon this canvas, and I marvel at the splendor.
Thank You, Lord, for the privilege of serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Thank You for the opportunity to learn from and share with all those who contribute their talents and promote their passions and devote themselves each day.
Lord, I ask that You give us the ability to deflect from the daily roadblocks of competing interest and to build bridges to a brighter tomorrow for ourselves and our posterity.
Lord, finally I ask that our labors may reflect Your insight. Amen.
May 5, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Henry M. Michaux, Jr.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, having been cast into a rather unusual role, I am going to pray for all of us. But before I do, I would like to quote for you a little something that I learned a long time ago that was written by the great black poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, during the depths of the Depression. It is just a four line poem that he wrote that can be applicable today to what is happening in our society. It goes like this:
“A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,
A minute to smile and an hour to weep in,
A pint of joy to a peck of trouble,
And never a laugh but the moans come double. And that is Life!”
Let us pray:
O God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come: we seek Thy divine guidance as we embark upon another day of work for the benefit of Your people. We ask that You help us as You helped Moses when You parted the Red Sea so that he could lead Your people to the bright lights of freedom–that You part the sea of enmity, divisiveness, partisanship, self-righteousness and hatred so that we may be led toward understanding, unity, the joy of working together, love, peace, brotherhood and sisterhood that You and Your people demand of us.
Teach us to understand those words written by Your servant, Martin Luther King, Jr., when he wrote to his brethren from a jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama, that “we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny–whatever affects one directly affects all …”
We ask, O Lord, that You extend Your hand to those unfortunate ones among us who suffer through no cause of their own.
“And finally, O Lord, we beseech Thy divine blessings on those who have assumed the roles of leadership both in our State and in our Nation and for those who offer up their lives to protect us from tyranny and terrorism. For those who lead, give them wisdom and foresight; for those who protect us, Your loving arms of safety.
And now, ‘may the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer.” Amen.
May 9, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Faircloth
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please bow with me if you so choose, as we go to the Lord in prayer.
Almighty God, at sometime in the distant past You cast the grains of sand to form our shoreline, You drew up the granite rock to shape our mountains and You swept Your hand across the Piedmont plain. This place You have provided soon in Your time began to bustle with the beauty of nature and the presence of mankind. We are part of this land through our forefathers, whether native born or by migration. Through trial and strife, war and hunger, and the backbreaking labor of generations this home of ours called North Carolina took shape and prospered.
We’re now, Lord, in another chapter of our history. Those of us in this House were sent here by our neighbors in this time of uncertainty to represent our present concerns and to take proper action to prepare this great State for our children’s future. This is a task not to be taken lightly. Every time we raise our voice or reach out our hand to vote on an issue we affect the lives and fortunes of all those who come after us across this State. Heavenly Father, if ever in the lives of each of us we had need of Your presence it is in this time in this Chamber. Grant us, God, the compassion of heart, the wisdom of mind and the courage of conviction to do what is right, just and beneficial for those at home who are waiting anxiously.
Be with those of our State who are yet homeless and troubled from the recent storms; by Your hand make them whole again. We especially ask, Lord, that You go with those of our sons and daughters who are serving in foreign land in protection of our Nation and our way of life. Keep them safe and bring them home soon.
Gracious and Loving God, we give You thanks for all the blessings we receive day after day. Help us to be honorable and worthy of those blessings. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight.
These words of prayer we offer each in his or her own way and for many in the Name of the Christ Jesus. Amen.
May 10, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Pat Hurley
Let us pray, please.
Our Heavenly Father, as we come into this Chamber today help us to be mindful of the great opportunity we have been granted and the tremendous responsibility we have to serve the citizens of our districts and our State. Help us to center down and remain attuned to the magnitude of the consequences of our decisions as we vote on legislation that will affect all North Carolinians. Please guide us with Your powerful hand and grant us wisdom to do what is right for the good of our people.
Thank You for the many blessings You bestow on us each day including the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the world we live in.
Please be with President Obama and our national leaders, as well as the leaders of other countries around the world. Please also be with Governor Perdue and everyone in leadership roles in North Carolina. Please grant them knowledge and wisdom in their daily decisions.
Please guide and protect those who are serving in our military; they and their families are sacrificing daily for their willingness to answer the call for our Nation. Please heal our land and be with those who have suffered through weather-related devastations here and abroad.
All glory, honor, and praise be unto Thee. In Jesus’ Precious Name I pray. Amen.
May 11, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Winkie Wilkins
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My prayer today is made up of excerpts from a song entitled, “For All Thy Gifts of Love.” Please join me in prayer.
“For food in a world where many walk in hunger,
For joy in a world where many walk in fear,
For friends in a world where many walk alone,
We give You thanks, O God.
For light in a world where many walk in darkness,
For peace in a world where many walk in fear,
For friends in a world where many walk alone,
We give You thanks, O God.
For these and all Thy many things unspoken,
For gifts unknown or as of yet unseen,
For these and all Thy gifts of love,
We give Thee thanks, O Lord.”
Amen.
(Excerpts from the song, “For All Thy Gifts of Love,” by David Brunner)
May 12, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Elmer Floyd
Giving honor today to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who have brought us thus far on the way, Thou who with Thy might has led North Carolina into the light.
Giving honor today to the Alpha and Omega in our life: for it was recorded in the record long before we entered into the world, this question: “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?” The response was, “Show me the coin.” The citizen brought forth a penny and it was asked “Whose name or image is on the picture?” The citizen said unto him, “It is the Caesar.” “Then render, therefore, to Caesar all things that are Caesar’s.”
We the 120 members of this Chamber must render unto the 9.5 million North Carolinians good, sound government. As we discuss matters today, let it speak for us with this prayer I echo to my chamber members, O Lord: “My heart will lie peaceful and calm.” Amen.
May 16, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Frank McGuirt
Members of the House, let us pray.
Most Gracious God, Supreme Architect of the universe, we bow humbly before You to give thanks for this wonderful world and all of Your bountiful blessings and to ask Your forgiveness for our shortcomings and transgressions.
We ask Your blessings, Lord, as we meet here in service to our fellow citizens. Never let us lose sight of our charge, of our oath or of our duty as we strive to enrich and make better the lives of all within the great State of North Carolina. Give us the knowledge, the skill and the wisdom to do what is best in Your sight, and keep us ever mindful that we are pledged to serve all at all stations in our society fairly and equally as Your Word says.
We ask for Your blessings and guidance for all in positions of leadership in our State and Nation. And we ask for a special blessing for our men and women in the uniform of our Country wherever our flag flies this evening.
In Your great Name we pray. Amen.
May 17, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Angela McMillan
(Legislative Assistant for Representative Darren Jackson)
Let us pray.
Father God, I love You with all my heart and all my mind and all my soul. I thank You, my Father God, for life and life more abundantly, for this day, this time, this moment in time: for this is the day that the Lord hath made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. I am glad for the privilege of allowing me to pray today, that I would allowed to pray openly in this place, and I don’t take it for granted.
Now, Father, we come before You thanking You for our leaders. They come from every hamlet and mountainside, up to the outer banks and down to the ocean front, to the Sand Hills and the Triad, to the towns and cities, to the farms and the metro areas, all the way over to Cherokee and down to Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune and Parris Island, and in every nook and cranny across this great, majestic State. From the mansions to the duplexes to the suburban neighborhoods to the low– to moderate–income areas, from the army barracks and colleges to the trailer courts and the universities, they come from all backgrounds and beginnings that You and only they know really. They come only because of You, Yourself have called them. So we thank You for them collectively and individually. We thank You for them one by one, for them and their service to this great State of North Carolina. We pray that they never forget from where they come nor who sent them here to serve.
In Your Word, You’ve asked us to pray for our leaders; so Father, I start by praying for my leader, my boss–Representative Darren Jackson, his wife Tina, little Jack, Logan, Alyssa. I thank You, God, for his kindness, his generosity of service, his godly wisdom, his sharp intellect and humility.
I pray now, Father, for Speaker Thom Tillis, his wife and his family, his safety, Father, form his departure to his destination and back again, for godly wisdom and discernment, for his dependence on You, O Lord. O God, I know personally the pains and stresses of leadership. So O God, bless him indeed.
I pray, Father, for Denise Weeks. She has held this legislative Body together year after year after year. In the ups and downs Denise has been here.
Father, I pray for our Governor Beverly Perdue, her family, her health and her wellbeing. And all the prayers we prayed for Speaker Tills we pray for her, as well. Leadership is a burden as well as a blessing. Bless her, Father, indeed.
We pray now, Father, for our President Barack Obama, for his wife Michelle, for Sasha and Malia, that You Yourself would perfect that which he does, thinks and prays for in this great Country. We pray for his optimum health, his mental clarity and supernatural wisdom and power from You, O Lord.
We pray this same pray for this legislative Body, for the pastors here today for the staff– from the housekeeping crew to the Research team to the legislative assistants and all the staff, the interns and the pages and all of our visitors. We call them blessed.
Now please turn in your Bible briefly if you will to II Chronicles 7:14. It reads as such: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sins and heal their land.”
So Father we come to You today with contrite hearts. We ask, Father, we cry out to You for forgiveness for the things that we’ve thought, the things that we’ve said, the things we’ve done, the things we have not done. Forgive us, Lord.
O Lord, my God, in I Chronicles 29:11 Your Word says that everything in the heavens and earth is Yours, O Lord, and this Your kingdom. We adore You as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from You alone and You are the Ruler of all mankind. Your hand controls power and might, and it is at Your discretion that men are made great and given strength.
And finally, Father God, there is a passage in the Bible in Matthew 12:25 that says that “every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” In the Amplified Version, as Jesus spoke this word was spoken: “Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand.” There are also messages in Mark and Luke that say the same thing.
And so I get it. I pray that we all get it. It’s not us about us; it’s about those children, those babies yet unborn, those elderly people, the people today, the people of yesterday in those hamlets and mountainsides. That is why we are here.
And so Father, I ask you to bless us…to bless us. The lesson here, Father, is that it is not about us; it is always about those who we serve. So please let us know, Heavenly Father, this thing deep in our hearts, Father God, that the people in the hamlets, on the mountainsides, in the outer banks are the people that depend on each one of you to do the right thing.
I love You, Lord. I could go on and on. This is the same prayer I come to You every morning with, so You know my voice and You know I’m going to say the same thing. And, so this is my prayer I pray for each one of you every day. It’s a lot longer than this, believe it or not. But, I want to say I love You, Lord, and I want to say thank You for receiving our prayer in Jesus’ Name. And all those who agree say: amen.
May 18, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Susi Hamilton
Good afternoon, everyone. It is the tradition in my church–the Episcopal Church–for the pastor to call out, “May the Lord be with you,” and the congregation to answer, “And also with you.” So, I’d like to begin my prayer today by asking and saying,
May the Lord be with you.”
(Response): And also with you.
“Grant, O God, that Your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people within Body, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and in peace. Through our Lord’s Name. Amen.”
(Prayer for Social Justice from the Book of Common Prayer)
May 19, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Linda Johnson
Thank you. Let us pray.
Thank You, Lord, for the day we are experiencing, for its trials and its blessings. Thank You for walking with us, and giving us the honor to serve the people of North Carolina.
Help us, Lord, to be filled with Your love and wisdom that we may share that spirit in our lives and in our service. Help us to know, Lord, that whether we are on the back row or standing at the Speaker’s podium, the Chair or the committee Member, we are all equal in Your eyes, in our service and in our vote. As we share our voices and the voices of those that sent us to serve, may we share them with Your wisdom and in the spirit of love.
We thank You for those who support us in doing our work. From the leader to the lecturer, the law officer to the office staff, from the researcher to the drafter, may we remember each day that without their assistance our jobs would be impossible. For their service, Lord, we are grateful.
For most of our Members today, Lord, is the last day of our week here in Raleigh. Please go with us and keep us safe as we travel home to our districts. As we finish our week in our districts, we ask that You give us the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon and a heart filled with Your love and compassion.
I ask this blessing in the Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
May 23, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Efton Sager
Let us pray.
Loving and Gracious God, we give You thanks for the privilege of serving Your people. Scripture commands us to fear and revere our God, yet we often find ourselves fearing each other, attempting to do that which pleases those around us rather than obeying Your will.
Enable us to always search and desire Your heart – a heart that seeks justice and mercy for all people. We ask for understanding and compassion during our time together, acknowledging our human limitations and shortcomings. But we believe You to be the source of all that’s good and right. Enable us to do that which is loving, kind and faithful for those we represent. May we be merciful and graceful in our decisions.
Although we come with many differences in backgrounds and ideologies, we share in our common concern for the people of our land. May our commonality of love for Your people be greater than the sum of all our differences. Despite our inadequate and flawed actions, may our intentions be pure and true. We pray that Your mercy and grace will be sufficient for our mistakes and imperfections.
Guide us and lead us now. Open our hearts and our minds to Your wisdom. In Your Name we pray. Amen.
May 24, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Justin P. Burr
Let’s pray.
Almighty God, we thank You for allowing us to be present in this place for one more day and for the honor to serve the citizens of the Old North State. As we come together weekly to govern the State of North Carolina, we humbly ask for Your guidance and wisdom in our decision making, especially over the coming weeks as we move closer to a finalized State Budget for the people of this State and the hectic weeks that will occur before crossover. I pray that through Your guiding hand that we do what is pleasing and right in Your sight.
Last, but most importantly, I pray for each and every citizen of our State, and that You will love, support, guide and bless each and every one of them.
In Jesus’ Holy Name, amen.
May 25, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Pat McElraft
Before we start our prayer today, let’s bow our heads for a moment of silence in reflection of the victims of the tornadoes in our State and those that have occurred in the rest of our country.
God of power and might, wisdom and justice, through You our authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted and judgment is decreed. Assist with Your Spirit of counsel and fortitude to the Members of this North Carolina House of Representatives. May we always seek the way of righteousness, justice and mercy. Grant that we may be enabled by Your powerful protection to lead our state with honesty and integrity.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May 26, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Mark Hollo
Peace be with you. Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we humbly bow our heads before You, thankful for all that You have given us. Help us on busy days to take the time to enjoy the beauty and the bounty of the world around us. We ask for Your mercy and we are thankful for Your grace.
We lift up our prayers for the leaders in our government: President Barack Obama, Governor Beverly Perdue, Speaker Thom Tillis and Senator Phil Berger. Be with Members of the General Assembly. Grant us strength, wisdom and understanding to do the job we have before us. When decisions are difficult, may we always look to You for guidance. Be with all of the staff, guests in the gallery and the pages. Watch over our families while we are apart.
As we go into the Memorial Day weekend, we are thankful for all of the men and women in the military who have died protecting our freedom. For those families who have lost loved ones recently and grieve, we ask that You wrap Your loving arms around them and comfort them. May they realize that they do not need to worry about tomorrow, for You are already there. We ask that You send Your angels to protect our military members now in harm’s way around the world. May they return safely to their families.
Now, Lord, we thank You for our colleagues beside us, the friendship between us and Your presence among us.
In Jesus Christ’s Holy Name I pray. Amen.
May 27, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Marilyn M. Suitt
(Member of the General Assembly staff)
Let us pray.
Dear God, we are thankful for this day and for all of the blessings, favors and privileges that You have given to us. Most importantly, we are thankful for the religious freedom and opportunities that we have to serve You. We acknowledge that we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory and humbly ask for Your forgiveness.
Please bless our great State of North Carolina, Country, and nation, and the leaders that work diligently to serve Your people. Be with us, lead us, guide us and order our steps in the ways that will be pleasing in Your sight, I pray. Amen.
May 31, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Speaker Pro Tempore Dale Folwell
Please bow your heads.
Dear God, as we gather here today, one day after Memorial Day, we often think of the rudeness of associating that important day with something as trivial as the beginning of summer. We fail to remember that Memorial Day is there not only to remember those that have fallen for our country, but to learn–remember and to learn.
We thank You for giving us this State and this Country, giving us our liberty and our freedom, gracing our soldiers both here and afar, gracing those families who’ve never gotten closure–not just the hundreds, not just the thousands, but the tens of thousands whose loved ones are still considered missing in action.
We hope that You bless these proceedings as we go forward, and we hope that we’re always reminded of the very important question: What do any of us have that You haven’t given us?
We hope that You bless our families, our spouses, many who are single parents as we do the work of the State of North Carolina, and we hope that You are with them also.
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
June 1, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Edgar Starnes
Thank you. Let us pray.
Our Kind and Heavenly Father, indeed we are grateful for this day that You have blessed us with. As we begin our deliberations, we pray that Your will will be done–nothing more, nothing less.
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
June 2, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Diane Parfitt
Almighty God, Giver of all good things, we thank You for the natural majesty and beauty of this land. They restore us, though we often destroy them.
Response: Heal us.
We thank You for the great resources of this Nation. They make us rich, though we often exploit them.
Response: Forgive us.
We thank You for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them.
Response: Inspire us.
We thank You for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land. It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden from its light.
Response: Enlighten us.
We thank You for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety. It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again.
Response: Renew us.
Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify Your Holy Name. Amen.
June 3, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Blust
Please bow with me.
Heavenly Father, we come before You in rather difficult times with difficult decisions and challenges, and we just ask for Your wisdom upon this Body as we grapple with these issues. So often we’re so inadequate to address them, and we ask for Your strength, Your wisdom and Your knowledge.
We pray for our people as many of them struggle with difficult economic times. We ask that You will strengthen them and be with them. And we particularly, Father, pray that You will keep those who are overseas fighting for our freedom in harm’s way, and that You will shield them and protect them and be a wall of safety to them.
We just again ask You for Your blessings upon this proceeding. We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
June 4, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Please bow with me.
“This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Lord, “may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.” Amen.
June 6, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Torbett
Ladies and gentlemen, visitors in the gallery, Members of the House, sixty-seven years ago a lot of brave Americans set forth on Operation Overlord, known in this Country more as D-Day. Had it not been for them, I would hate to think where we might be on this very evening. Will you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, thank You for the lives of those brave boys that gave all in service to this great Country so many years ago on the beaches of Normandy so that this Country and others would remain free.
Lord, please continue to grant us Your blessing so we may continue the ongoing work of ensuring freedom, just as those did who came before us: men and women that, with Your blessing, forged a country based on freedom of religion without the fear of persecution; men and women that, in the face of insurmountable odds, never wavered in their faith and trust in You. Grant us this same blessing that we may be able to continue Your work. Allow us to look back to past generations that we may understand the suffering and hardships of so many Americans that with–and only with–Your loving guidance were able to endure.
Most Gracious Heavenly Father, we pray for the souls of our fallen heroes, those that gave their last full measure of devotion to this great Country. I pray that You will never let us, our children or our grandchildren forget the sacrifices of those men and women in such places as Guilford Courthouse, Bentonville, Belleau Wood, the beaches of Normandy, Incheon, the Mekong Delta, Basra, Helmand province, and Fallujah.
Heavenly Father, although the guns of war once again resonate on foreign soil, let us remember the words of one of our fallen leaders: “With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as You give us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in.”
Heavenly Father, there are battles to be won on our home shores, battles that daily tear at the tightly woven fabric of freedom. We strongly pray that You will guide us to victory in these battles. Heavenly Father, we pray that You will cleanse our hearts of the apathy that is dissolving the moral fiber of this great Land. In a time where we more often think of ourselves more than others, please open our hearts to those less fortunate. We pray that You will replace the thirst for material worth with a thirst for service and honest respect of our families and fellow man.
We pray for our elected officials, that they may be strong in faith and leadership. Let us always be mindful that in every battle or debate, the importance lies not as to whose side You are on, but rather that we together are on Your side. We pray that You will guide us in our daily duties and protect us as we strive to strengthen this Country again to that place where, on the breath of all Americans, we might once again hear, “duty, honor, country.”
Most Gracious Heavenly Father, last we pray that this Country will never forsake the truth that in You we trust. God, please continue to bless America.
I pray this in the Name of the God that I follow–in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
June 7, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rosa Gill
Thank you. Today I want to start by telling you a story about praying, and it’s something like this:
“A ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert-like island. The two survivors, not knowing what to do, agreed they had no recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose pray was most powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
“The first thing the first man prayed for was food. The next morning the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land and he was able to eat it. The other man’s parcel remained barren.
“After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day a ship was wrecked and the only survivor was a woman, who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.
“Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that his wife and he could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessing, since none of his prayers had been answered.
“As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from Heaven. ‘Why are you leaving your companion on the island?’
“‘My blessings are mine alone, since I was the only one who prayed for them,’ said the first man. ‘His prayers were unanswered so he does not deserve anything.’
“‘You’re mistaken,’ the voice spoke. ‘He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.’
“‘Tell me,’ the first man asked the voice, ‘what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?’ ‘He prayed that all your prayers be answered.’”
(Author unknown)
For all we know, our blessings are not the fruit of our prayers alone but those of another praying for us.
In closing, I’ll ask you to make someone happy by the way you live. Make some heart more steady through the help you give. Strengthen other feet to travel on life’s way. Comfort other hearts in sorrow by the words you say. Through the gladness shed around you, yours will be gained, for the life of the giver is not lived in vain.
Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.
June 8, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Leo Daughtry
The Lord be with you.
Response: And also with you.
Let us pray.
We give thanks and praise to a loving God Who has blessed our lives. He has blessed this State and He has blessed this Nation.
O Lord, it has turned off hot these past few days, and we are plowing through a large number of bills prior to crossover. Help us to keep our egos in check, remembering that this great State has survived for over 200 years without the passage of all these bills and, with Your help, it will continue to survive.
We further trust that You will eventually lead us to a place where we don’t seek the blessings from those who cannot give them and where we don’t confuse what we want with what You want.
And finally, Lord, fill us with compassion, with service to others, non-judgmental and with Your grace to every creature, great and small. Amen.
June 9, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Garland Pierce
Bow your heads with me please.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto Thee.
Our Father and our God, we thank Thee for yet another day. Thank You for Your fresh mercies and Your loving-kindness. We ask You to be with us today as we continue to do the business of the great State of North Carolina for the good of Your people. And O God, let us be mindful of Your Word, that reminds us: “In as much as Ye have done it unto one of the least of these, mine brethren, Ye have done it unto me.”
O God, bless us in this day. Continue to keep Your arms wrapped around us as we travel near and far.
In Your Name, we pray. Amen.
June 13, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Norman Sanderson
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, will you please join me in prayer.
Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Giver of every good and perfect gift, He who was and is and is to come: Examine us, O Lord, and test us; try our minds and our hearts. Enable us to flee foolish and wicked lusts and instead follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, patience and kindness.
We know that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We shall trust in the Lord and lean not to our own understanding; but in all our ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths. Apart from God we have knowledge but no wisdom. Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man that gets understanding, for it is better than silver and gold.
We humble ourselves and we pray. We seek Your face and we turn from our wicked ways. Please, God, hear from Heaven and forgive our sin and heal our land.
In the mighty Name of Jesus we do pray. Amen.
June 14, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Glazier
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. This is a prayer for the children written by Ina Hughs and read at the UNICEF World Summit.
We pray for children
Who sneak Popsicles before supper,
Who erase holes in math workbooks,
Who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
Who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
Who can’t bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,
Who never “counted potatoes,”
Who are born in places where we couldn’t and wouldn’t be caught dead,
Who never go to the circus, and Who live in an X-rated world.
We pray for the children
Who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
Who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money
And we pray for those children
Who never get dessert,
Who never have a safe blanket to drag behind them,
Who watch their parents watch them die,
Who can’t find bread to steal,
Who don’t have rooms to clean up,
Whose pictures aren’t on anyone’s dresser,
Whose monsters are very real.
We pray for children
Who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
Who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
Who like ghost stories, and shove dirty clothes under the bed
Who never rinse out the tub,
Who get visits from the tooth fairy,
Who don’t like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
Who squirm in church and scream in the phone,
Whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.
And we pray for those
Whose nightmares come in the daytime,
Who will eat anything,
Who have never seen a dentist,
Who aren’t spoiled by anybody,
Who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
Who live and move, but have no being.
We pray for children who want to be carried
And for those who must,
Who we never give up on
And for those who don’t get a second chance.
And finally, we pray for those we smother with love
And for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.
Amen.
(“We Pray for Children,” by Ina Hughs)
June 15, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Phil Shepard
Let us pray.
Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for the opportunity and the blessing of being born in this great Nation, this State. We thank You for all the blessings that You give us each and every day when we don’t deserve those.
We pray a special prayer tonight for our leaders from the White House down to our local communities, for each and every one in this General Assembly and this State. We pray, Lord, that You will lead, guide and direct us in all of our decisions and all that we say and do. We pray that we will be Christ-like, even in our differences, that we would respect one another and show dignity in the process.
Lord, I pray a special prayer tonight for Representative Warren’s daughter, Representative Sager’s wife, Representative Brown’s wife, Representative Mobley’s mother and, of course, Representative Wilkins. We pray for speedy recovery and for health and for healing in their lives, and we pray that You will give them the grace that is needed at this time and their families for all they are experiencing. We pray, Lord, that all that is said and done tonight, more than anything else, will bring honor and glory to You.
In Christ’s Name I pray. Amen.
June 16, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Grey Mills
Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask for forgiveness, to seek Your direction and to thank You for our freedom. We beg You to bless and enlighten the leaders of our State and our Nation. Guide us here today to be honest in all our actions, for only through You do we have the capability to make this a great State with that knowledge and wisdom You have given us. As we make decisions today, may we turn to You for those decisions. You said You would never leave us; I pray that we never leave You.
I pray this prayer in Your Holy Name. Amen.
June 17, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Norman Sanderson
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. To segue into our prayer this morning I’d like to read four verses from Scripture from the 103rd Psalm. I think this is very relevant for us today.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…”
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”
“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.”
(Psalm 103:1-2, 8, 17)
Let us pray.
Our most Gracious and Merciful Heavenly Father, we thank You this day for all of Your benefits. Lord, Your Word says that all good and perfect gifts come from the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Father, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. And as You were with us in this chamber in the beginning, Your presence is just as much here today as we end.
Father, we thank You that You have guided us and You have shared Your wisdom. You have taken our understanding, Lord, and You have given us even greater understanding. You have increased us as we have sat in this room and made decisions that affect people’s lives every day. Father, please go with us through the end.
Father, go with us as we go back to our homes–as we go and as we talk and as we share what has happened here with our constituents and the people in our communities. Father, we just pray, Lord, that You would watch over and keep all of us and our families as we return home.
We give You all honor and all glory, for it’s in Jesus’ Name that we pray. Amen.
June 18, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bert Jones
Ladies and gentlemen of the House, visitors in the gallery: This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Will you pray with me?
Our Father and our God, today, on the final day of this long portion of the General Session of the North Carolina General Assembly, we once again come before Your throne of grace, acknowledging that You are God, our Creator and Giver of Life, with that life being eternal.
We offer special prayers of intercession on behalf of those we represent, as did many godly leaders referenced in Your Word. We are indeed thankful for so many of Your people that often pray for us and the work we do.
Father, we also pray that You would give us wisdom from above–wisdom that comes only from You. Grant us courage to stand strong against that which is evil and for that which is good. Give us a desire to know and understand Your Word, that we might know the difference.
And Father, today as we go our separate ways for a while, I pray for Your protection of each of these Representatives, and a special blessing upon their families that sacrifice to allow them to serve. I pray not only for Your physical protection, but guard our spirits, guard our hearts and guard our actions.
Our work has included much spirited debate. We pray, Father, that no hearts would leave here bitter. We pray that You would guard us from ascribing motives to others. We pray that You would guard our tongues from slander. We pray that, as we fellowship in our own communities, we would be a source of encouragement to others and not a source of fear.
Help us, O God, to understand the temporary nature of the things of this world that we might truly set our hearts and minds on those things above. Give us an eternal perspective. Help us remember that each of us is accountable to You. We pray that each one here might one day hear those words from You: “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” Until that day, let us strive to serve You and do all things for Your honor and glory.
Help us to finish well today, and please bring each one here back safely that we might meet again soon at the appointed time. Each one here offers their prayers in their own way. I offer mine in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
July 13, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
If you would, be please bow with me.
Lord, our business today may be just a formality, complying with the law, however, Your love and care for us is never just a formality. No law compels You to show up at noon on July 13 to hear our prayer. You are here because You love us and care about the details of our lives: the meetings, the calls, even the food we will eat for lunch. Help us to see Your love for us today, to receive Your complete forgiveness when we fall short (which we will certainly do), and to delight in Your many blessings.
Thank You, Gracious Father. Amen.
July 14, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Verla Insko
The Lord be with you.
Response: And also with you.
God, You have touched us all with the divine spark of life. That spark binds us together as brothers and sisters. As brothers and sisters often do, we aren’t getting along very well right now. We pray for Your guidance that we may seek together to find Your way.
We pray for our national leaders, we pray for our state leaders, we pray for each other, whether we are here today or away. And we ask that, as we fulfill our duties today, that our words, our deeds and our actions are acceptable in Your sight, O God, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.
July 18, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Deborah Ross
“O God of all people, all this wondrous, puzzling and incredible world so full of sound and fury, but also singing and laughter; of disaster and death, but also birth and beauty; of greed and grime, but also grace and goodness–we ask that in a world so broken and bruised we may direct our powers as individuals and as a Body bound together to make a difference in this present age.
“Help us
to build bridges of hope over chasms of indifference, to share the bread and wine with the hungry,
to make plowshares out of swords,
to heal bodies racked with pain,
to liberate minds locked in prejudice and hate,
“and thus live with a kind of reckless peace knowing that, as in the beginning, we too can look on creation and behold ‘it is very good.’ Amen.”
(Taken from “Prayers for Women,” by Mary Lib Finlator and offered in memory of Gertrude Pope)
July 21, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dan Ingle
Let us pray.
Kind and most Gracious Heavenly Father, we do thank You, Lord, for this day and every day. Father, we just thank You for attending to our every need. Lord, we pray now for those who are poor during this heat, Lord–I just pray that You keep them safe. Father, we pray for Your divine guidance as we do the business of the people that we serve. Lord, I just pray that You be with each one as we make those tough decisions.
Lord, we do thank You again for loving us, and these things I do pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
July 24, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Deborah Ross
“O God of the miracle of galaxies and crocuses and children and grace that flares up in us to save us from self-pity, self-seeking and self-centeredness: make us wide-eyed for beauty and for our neighbors’ need, wide-willed for peacemaking so that we will confront power with a call for compassion, wide-hearted for love and for the unloved who are the hardest to touch and need us most so that we will forever be linked to justice and joy, to pain and beauty. Amen.”
(Adapted from “Prayers for Women,” by Mary Lib Finlator, Chaplain 1992-1994 Woman’s Club of Raleigh)
July 25, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dan Ingle
God and most Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You, Lord, as we come here today to attend to the business of those we serve. Lord, I just thank You for every person that is here today, every citizen as we go about doing their business. Father, I just pray right now for each and every one of the Members that are here today. Lord, we just pray for Your divine guidance as we do that business.
Lord, we just thank You for loving us, and these things I do pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
July 26, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative William A. Current, Sr.
Heavenly Father, please be with us today as we discuss issues and matters that are more important than any individual here. Send Your wisdom upon us, make us grateful for the gift of life, let us be thoughtful always of those who are less fortunate than we, and let us do those things which are right in Your view and just for the people in the great State of North Carolina.
We ask these things in the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
July 27, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Michael Wray
Gracious God, we come thanking You today for all of Your blessings and the privileges You have given each of us to serve You by serving Your people. We thank You for countless blessings poured out upon the people of this great State and Nation. We pray that Your presence will be before us and everyone who serves in the decision-making process of our State. We pray for direction which will lead our State to be strong and faithful. May we be granted this day decisions which will be pleasing to You.
We ask Your blessings upon our Legislators, leaders of this great State and the leaders of this great Nation, who You have given the charge to govern Your people in the pursuit of liberty, justice and equality for all. Bless this Session and, in the midst of the many challenges our State faces today, may Your Spirit grant wisdom and give guidance to every decision that is made in this place. Help us to move beyond our differences and party lines to the place where we can agree to differ, resolve to love and unite to serve.
In Your Name we do pray and give thanks. Amen.
July 28, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Carmen Cauthen
(Member of the House Principal Clerk’s staff)
Good morning, Father! Thank You for Your morning, Your light, Your love…for You in all Your magnificent glory! Thank You for sharing it all with us this day.
Remind us that You were here first, and You knew exactly what we would be doing in this time and place. You knew us before we were formed, and You will know us until the very end of our time on Earth.
Give us
wisdom to know that You are in control,
even when we want to be,
discernment to know that whoever we come in contact with,
that it is Your divine appointment, grace to accept what we can’t change
and the knowledge to know that in the end, only what we do for You will matter.
Help us to love each other exactly as You have loved each of us, in simplicity just as we are, just as You created us.
In Your Blessed Name we pray. Amen.
September 12, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Please bow with me as I read a portion of Psalm 103 from the Bible.
“Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits –
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
“The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
And his righteousness with their children’s children.”
(Psalm 103:1-17)
Lord, make us all instruments of Your peace today as we listen to one another, laugh with one another and love one another in spite of our differences.
Now, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
September 13, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Deborah Ross
Colleagues and guests, this is another wonderful prayer given to us by Mary Lib Finlator.
“God of yesterday, today and tomorrow, so much has happened to us during these whirlwind days since last we gathered here:
We’ve known death and birth;
We’ve been hurt and we’ve hurt others;
We’ve laughed and we’ve cried;
We’ve been scared and we’ve been brave;
We’ve been lonely and we’ve known deep communion;
We’ve made resolutions and already broken them.
“O God, we are so human; we’re so frail…still we are little lower than angels.
“And we have this time of beginnings–a new session, another day, a second, third, fifteenth chance to bring hope and love where there is despair and anger; to do our duty and a little more; to wrestle with the utter mystery of questions without answers, pain without surcease and fears that hound our days and haunt our sleep; and to walk with grace and hope and trust into the future. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.”
(Adapted from “Prayers for Women,” by Mary Lib Finlator, Chaplain 1992-1994 Woman’s Club of Raleigh)
September 14, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Phil Shepard
Let us pray.
Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for the rising of the sun and the promise of a new day in which we may serve You. We pray that You would grant Your dear hand upon us and order our steps that we would honor and please You in all that we do. We pray for Your wisdom and discernment, that every decision that we will make today would be centered on Your will. Keep us from presumption. Make us kind and sensitive to all those whom we shall meet and whom we shall serve.
All this we ask in the Precious Name of Christ. Amen.
November 7, 2011
The following prayer and moment of silence are offered by
Representative John Torbett
On October 31st we lost Senator Jim Forrester. Gaston County and North Carolina have lost their Gentle Giant, and I have lost a friend. Although we mourn his loss we also celebrate Jim’s life–an honorable life of service and sacrifice to his fellow citizens. Throughout his lifetime of service as Doctor, Soldier, Commissioner, and Senator he touched so many people–people that will forever remember his true caring both of and for them.
Because of his lifetime of unquestionable loyalty and service to his Country and State, Jim was one man, in whom I could depend, knew and lived the true meaning of ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’ He saw the price, he bore the cost, and he knew the sacrifice having witnessed so many American boys shed their blood at the altar of freedom.
I know several of you here recently lost loved ones. I know that many, if not all here present today, during your life have lost loved ones, friends and colleagues. I respectfully ask that this House of the people of North Carolina now hold a moment of silence and reflection to remember Senator Jim Forrester, his family and those nearest to all of us who have gone to their eternal reward.
[Moment of Silence]
God, please continue to bless our families, each of us, the people of our great State and our beloved Country. I pray in Your Son’s Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
November 27, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Grier Martin
Please bow your heads with me in a prayer of thanksgiving.
Dear Lord, as we are still working off the calories from wonderful Thanksgiving meals that we spent with friends and family around the country, we offer thanks to You for the democratic system You have given us. We ask that You would give us the tools to care for this precious system that You, through the people, have given to us–the members of the North Carolina General Assembly.
We also thank You for the brave men and women serving overseas to defend this precious system of democracy–particularly for one of our own, Representative Colonel Ric Killian, who is in harm’s way for this holiday season. We ask that You keep him safe, as well as his family and those of his fellow soldiers.
Finally, more than anything else, Lord, this Christian thanks You for the right that we have here in America to join with my fellow Christians (Protestant/Catholic), Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and folks of all faiths to thank You and honor You in offering up thanks. Amen.
November 28, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Chad Barefoot
(Staff member for House Majority Leader Paul Stam)
Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank You for the opportunity that You have given us to govern ourselves. Lord, we bow humbly before You today to recognize Your authority over us and our institutions. We are eternally thankful for Your sovereign hand that guides us each day.
Lord, I want to pray specifically for the Representatives and their families. I pray that You will give the Members wisdom as they govern our State and that You will bless the time that they spend with their families during the coming months, and that You make it fruitful and glorifying to You.
Lord, we thank You for the freedom that You have given us in Your Son Jesus Christ, and it is in His Name that we offer this prayer. Amen.
November 29, 2011
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Pittman
Great God our Father, we thank You for the privilege and the blessing of living in this land where we are free to serve and worship You as we feel led. We thank You for those who defend that right, and the many who sacrifice their very lives for it. Our hearts go out to the families of those who have given their lives in devotion to our people.
I pray, Father, for those in foreign lands defending the cause of freedom today. We ask You to bless them with wisdom and protection and victory. Lord, we pray that in our time there will be a spread of peace rather than war.
Lord, as we gather here today, though we may not always realize it about one another and sometimes we have our doubts, we believe that in our hearts we all want to do the right thing, the best thing for the people. So, Lord, we pray You’ll give us wisdom this day to do just that. Help us, O Lord, to be devoted to doing what is right in Your sight. We don’t always know what that is, so we need Your Spirit to guide us to find it out, to stand for it and to do it. We pray that You would help us to do that today, O God.
Bless the families of each Member here. Help us all, O God, to be truly united in You as the free people You’ve allowed us to be in Christ our Lord. Amen.
2012 Session
January 4, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Deborah Ross
Here is another prayer from my constituent, Mary Lib Finlator.
“O God of all seasons and senses, grant us Your sense of timing to rejoice in the turn of the seasons and in this New Year.
“Help us
to make beginnings for ourselves
to dare to risk that we may make peace
to question the unquestionable that we may know the truth to love that we may experience joy.
“Help us to be a beginning for others through this legislative Body, through other ways and through ways that are open to us:
to befriend the friendless and forgotten,
to comfort the sorrowing,
to champion the oppressed,
to be a source of hope and beauty for the forlorn, the soured, the angry, the broken.
“Help us to make a beginning, to be a beginning so that we may not just grow old but we will grow new each day in this wild, amazing life. Amen.”
(“Prayers for Women,” by Mary Lib Finlator, Chaplain 1992-1994 Woman’s Club of Raleigh)
January 5, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bert Jones
Let us pray.
Our Father and our God, once more we come before You this evening, seeking Your wisdom and Your grace. Father, we’re thankful for the opportunity that we have to live in a free country where we can be duly elected by the citizens to serve. Father, we thank You that we have the opportunity that we gather freely and without fear, Father. Father, we pray for our nation. We ask that you would guide and direct us in all that we do.
We pray that you would be with those in this Body that could not be here this evening because of sickness or duress. Father, we particularly think of Representative Womble. Father, we just pray for his healing, that it would be complete. Father, we pray for his family.
Now, Father, we ask that You guide and direct us as we continue business before us. Father, as each Member will be returning home we pray for safety in travel and that You would bring us back together at the appointed time.
Father, each one praying in his own way, I offer my prayer in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 16, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Alan Wimbish
(Officer of the General Assembly Police Department)
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we come to You in the Name that is above all names. Thank You for the many blessings that You’ve given to us so freely.
Your Word tells there is no authority except for that which has been established, and that government is the servant of God. Therefore, I ask Your blessing on this Body, that You would supply the wisdom of King Solomon, the bravery of King David and the grace of the Savior.
In our Saviors’ Name, Amen.
February 18, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Reverend Charles Thomas
Please bow with me
Dear Heavenly Father, please accept our thanks for this beautiful day. Amen.
April 23, 2012
The following prayer was offered by Representative Becky Carney:
Thank you. Please join me in prayer.
God, as we gather in this Chamber today, let us be reminded that life is short and yet can be so crowded. Let us remember that we’re here today, not because of ourselves, but
because of others that sent us here. Help us to be reminded constantly, dear Lord, that, as life is ever changing, we should be willing to open our hearts to those changes and to put others first before ourselves. Help us to remember, dear Lord, that we, as we gather today, that we can attain from Your guidance wisdom and strength to go forward as we serve the people of this State.
Always we ask in Your Name. Amen.
April 25, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Craig Horn
Please bow your heads.
Dear God, we come before You this day to do our duty to the best of our abilities. Grant us objectivity. Help us keep balance in the life of this State. Grant us realism so that our reach does not go beyond our grasp. Grant us calm so that we can make reasoned decisions. Grant us a sense of duty so that we remain true to the trust placed upon us.
Protect those that serve, many away from home and family. Some serve in harm’s way; watch over them, dear Lord.
Cause us to be humble in our service to You and to our fellow man. And hold us, dear Lord–hold us in the palm of Your hand. Amen.
May 16, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Craig Horn
Please bow your heads.
Dear God, we’re back. We come before You this day to do our duty to the best of our ability, to debate openly, to consider carefully and to cast our votes responsibly. Grant us objectivity. Help us keep balance in the life of this State. Grant us realism so that our reach does not go beyond our grasp. Grant us calm so that we make reasoned decisions. Grant us a sense of duty so that we remain true to the trust placed upon us.
Protect those that serve, many far away from home and family. Some serve in harm’s way; watch over them, dear Lord. We are grateful, dear Lord, for the safe return of Representative Killian who served our country in a war-torn world.
We ask that you watch over Representative Womble as he continues down the long road to recovery. We humbly ask Your hand to be on Representative Adams, Representative Brown, Representative Dockham and Representative Frye as they, too, are recovering, and with Representative Dollar in this time of family loss.
Cause us to be humble in Your service, dear Lord, to our fellow man. And finally dear God, hold us–hold all of us in the palm of Your hand. Amen.
May 17, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Glazier
Thank you. This is an adaptation of Jack Reimer’s prayer called “Prayer Alone is Not Enough.”
“We cannot only pray to You, God, to end war, for we know that You have made the world in such a way that we must find the path to peace within ourselves and with our neighbors.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, to end starvation, for You have already given us the resources with which to feed the entire world if we would only use them wisely.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, to root out our prejudice, for You have already given us eyes with which to see the good and equality of all people if we would only use them rightly.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, that You would end despair, for You have already given us the power to clear away poverty and to give hope if we would only use that power justly.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, to end disease for You have given us great minds with which to search out cures and healings if we would only use them constructively.
“So we pray instead for strength, determination, courage and will to do instead of only to pray, to become instead of merely to wish, to act instead of merely to speak, for Your sake and for ours speedily and soon, that our State, Nation and world may be safe, that our lives may be blessed.”
(Adaption of “Prayer Alone is Not Enough,” by Rabbi Jack Reimer)
May 21, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Alice Bordsen
Thank you, Members, and thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the prayer tonight I have gone to the writings of Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary General of the United Nations, who was a quiet and disciplined man. He saw himself as more of a technocrat and was very surprised when he was made Secretary General of the United Nations.
His work, however, came from a very deep spirituality and a complete dedication to purpose. It became the standard by which all subsequent Secretary Generals have been
measured. He understood the ability and the need to gather one’s drink by reaching into the stillness within yourself. I have taken the liberty of combining two of his short prayers into one, so may we join together in the stillness of his prayer.
“You who are over us, You who are one of us, You who are also within us: may all see You in me also. May I prepare the way for You, may I thank You for all that shall fall to my lot, may I also not forget the needs of others. Give me a pure heart that I may see You, a humble heart that I may hear You, a heart of love that I may serve You, a heart of faith that I may abide in You. And have mercy upon us: have mercy upon our efforts, that we before Thee in love and faith and righteousness and humility may follow Thee with self-discipline, steadfastness and courage, and meet Thee in the stillness. Amen.”
(Adapted from prayers by Dag Hammarskjöld, Second Secretary General of the United Nations)
May 22, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Pittman
Let’s pray.
Almighty God, our Father, we thank You that You’ve given us a land where we are free, where the people take part in our government, where those who govern are held accountable to the people, where we do not consider ourselves to be masters of the people, but rather their servants. We thank You, O God, for this system of government.
We thank You for all those who have given so much to make us a free nation, for those who have given their lives, and for those who are now risking their lives for our freedom and security. We give You thanks and we ask Your blessings, Lord, on all of our veterans and all those who currently serve. Father, we pray for the families of all those who are deployed at this time. We know that they go through tremendous strain and difficulty, the heartache of separation and the fear of what may happen. We just ask, Lord, that You give them peace and comfort. Lord, we desire to see our troops home safe and sound.
Father, we think of those whose family members may be going through difficult times, those who are ill and those who are suffering in any way. We ask that You be close to them, an ever present help in times of difficulty, fear and pain.
Lord, we ask most of all, as You are the One who has the wisdom, the power and the ability to create all this vast universe around us, help us to know it is You to Whom we must turn for wisdom. Help us to know it is You upon Whom we depend for strength. Help us to open our hearts and our minds to Your Spirit for guidance in all that we do here in this place. Help us remember that we will give account to You for how we govern, that we may do so with Your glory and the best interest of the people at heart at all times.
Lord, we thank You that Representative Womble is able to be here with us today. We pray that You will continue to strengthen and bless him for a full and complete recovery.
Lord, help us to do our best for You and the people. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
May 23, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
I will regard You as Holy, Lord of Hosts. You shall be my resting place. You are the stability of our times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. Fearing You, O Lord, is the key to wisdom.
As we enter deeply into this legislative session, I am reminded that You’ve taught us to forgive others as we ourselves have been forgiven, but we rarely are willing to do that on either side. Forgive us for the grudges we hold and our slowness to forgive others. At each of Your commandments we have stumbled, and we plead for Your mercy because in our hearts we have built idols and looked to them instead of You for fulfillment.
Forgive us for how we often treat our families, friends, neighbors and coworkers, selfishly looking to our own interests and not to the interests of others. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear their needs and concerns as equal to our own.
We praise You for our daily bread, the air we breathe, the clothes we wear and the shelter You provide.
As we finish out this week, help us love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us. May we do onto others as we would have them do onto us.
Draw us to seek after You daily. We pray that You would give us a sense of our calling in this world, to guide and shepherd those You’ve put in our care, to impact our communities with the salt You have provided. Give each of us hope and strength to accomplish our purposes.
And now, Lord, respecting all faiths, I ask these things in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
May 24, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jason Saine
God, as we seek to be inspired by You, let us acknowledge that divine spark which You gave us and spoke of first in Your ancient texts when Your Spirit moved upon the face of the waters and Your Spirit gave our world clarity and light. So should we always be inspired to seek clarity and light. As we move forward with the business of the day, let us acknowledge that we are all children of that divine Giver of light and life.
My prayer would be that each day as we debate, many times vigorously, amongst our party divisions, our ideological viewpoints and by whatever divisions we place on ourselves, that by the end of each day, we remember that we are all brothers and sisters created by that divine spark. Let us remember that, whatever wounds we inflict on each other, and many times whatever wounds we inflict upon ourselves, that these are temporary and small in the eyes of God. I pray that we shall ultimately seek Him in all that we do, and may He wipe away every tear from our eyes.
Let us seek to do good unto all, recommend it more especially to the household of the faithful. Let us all seek to inspire and to be inspired.
In Your Name we pray. Amen.
May 25, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Nelson Dollar
In memory of his mother who recently passed away
We’ll Meet Again Someday
God saw you were getting tired
And a cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around you
And whispered: “Come with me.”
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer
And saw you fade away.
Although we love you dearly
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts
To prove He only takes the best.
So, each time we see your picture
You seem to smile and say:
“Don’t cry for me. I’m in God’s keeping.
We’ll meet again someday.”
(Author Unknown)
May 29, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jennifer Weiss
We gather together and give thanks for the many blessings You have bestowed upon us and for giving us the opportunity to serve the people of North Carolina. As we come together today, the day after Memorial Day, we remember with love, respect and gratitude the many men and women who served in the military, fought and gave their lives to protect us and to protect our freedom.
Many of us participated in Memorial Day observances in our communities over the
weekend. Today, I would like to share part of a poem with you that I read at a Memorial Day observance in Cary yesterday. The poem is “For the Fallen,” by Laurence Binyon. Although it was written in 1914 in honor of the British soldiers who fought in World War I, I believe that its themes apply to our own Memorial Day.
For the Fallen
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Amen.
May 31, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bert Jones
Our Father and our God, as elected leaders and Representatives of this State, we humbly acknowledge that You are indeed Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations. We also acknowledge our dependence upon You for the continuance of Your blessings that provide for our liberties and our preservation. We thank You for the wisdom and the testimony of these words that begin the Constitution of our State. We pray that we would always be mindful of and act consistently with these truths as we would seek to govern as good stewards of Your provision.
We pray for wisdom and discernment, that we would seek first to honor You as we face difficult issues and make laws. We pray for righteousness, as Your Word reminds us that righteousness exalts a nation. Please help us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understandings, but in all our ways we would acknowledge You, that You would direct our paths. Give us divine help that we might be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. Help us to speak the truth, but also to speak the truth in love. And, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, help us to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ offers forgiveness to us, according to Your Word.
With each one here praying in their own way, I offer my prayer in the worthy Name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
June 4, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marilyn Avila
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You today as our Creator and Sustainer of all life. We thank You today for all things in our lives–the good that helps us see Your grace and the bad that helps see Your mercy.
We pray today for Your guidance as the governing authorities You have appointed to lead our State. Make us ever mindful that it is not through our own strength that we take up these positions of leadership. As Your appointed, we ask for Your wisdom, love and compassion as we make decisions.
We pray today for protection of each of our servicemen and women as they defend our country and the freedoms we hold so dear. Be with their families, comfort them and ease their anxieties.
All of this I ask in the Name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
June 5, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bill Cook
O God, You are the Fountain of all wisdom, the Author of all truth and the Creator of all that is good and gracious. You have given us this great land for our heritage. We humbly pray that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Your favor and ready to do Your will. Save us from violence, pride, discord and from every evil way. Help us be quick to defend our liberties, and fashion us into a united people who are eager and ready to do Your will.
We ask this day that You might guide us as we enact laws and care for the business of this State, that our work might be pleasing to Your sight and beneficial to those we serve. Grant us wisdom and grace in the exercise of our duties. Fill our hearts today with thanksgiving, and in the day of trouble help us ever to trust in You.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
June 6, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Alma Adams
This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Let us pray.
Father, we thank You for this day. It is a day that we are grateful to have and one that we’ve not seen before. We thank You for life and health and strength, for family and friends and the opportunity to serve and do Your will in the service of Your people. We remain grateful to You and acknowledge that You have provided this opportunity of servant leadership for each of us, not because of any good or gracious thing that we’ve done, but only because of Your goodness and Your mercy–and we thank You for Your mercy.
Lord, Your words are true and You credit righteousness to those who trust in You. Guide us back to You when we fall into disobedience and teach us how to examine our ways. You said in Your Word that obedience is better than sacrifice; help us to know the difference.
And Lord, we’re meeting today to conduct matters of business for Your people. Guide our hearts and our minds in the spirit of fairness, right thought and speech. And Lord, impart Your supreme wisdom upon our activities so that our affairs may reach a successful conclusion. And help us always to remember Galatians 6:10 which says that as we have opportunity, we should do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of faith.
Thank You for being our source of guidance today and in the days to come. We ask all of these things in the Precious Name of Your Son. Amen.
June 7, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Kelly Alexander
Lord, as we come together to deliberate on North Carolina’s business,
Give us the ability to discern Your will in all that we do.
Lift us up where we belong
…above partisan bickering
…above ideological posturing.
Lift us up where eagles fly, where statesmen and stateswomen gather,
Where the interest of North Carolina is paramount.
Lift us up on mountains high
Far from the world we know
Up where the clear winds blow.
Lord, lift us up.
Amen.
June 11, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Martha Alexander
Our Heavenly Father, You are known by many names: Father, God, Allah, Yahweh, Lord, Abba and O Holy One. We ask You for Your blessings upon all of us gathered here today. Fill us with joy, grace and an inner peace as we go about our daily tasks. And we ask Your guidance as we deliberate and negotiate the many issues before us.
Even though we are of different religious views as well as political views, let us not lose sight that we are here to serve all the citizens of North Carolina. Help us to have patience with each other as we work together to ensure that the laws we enact are for the betterment of our citizens and that they carry the elements of truth, charity and justice.
Give us the strength to seek understanding and peace, which we endeavor to have, so that our lives may be a shining beacon to those around us. Amen.
June 12, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Bell
Eternal God, please accept our thanks for Your many blessings. We are so thankful for our heritage, our faith and freedom. Help us to remain true to the great ideals that have made our State and our Nation great. Help us to continue to be the home of justice, of liberty and true brotherhood. We ask a special blessing upon our servicemen who make the ultimate sacrifice every day for our peace and security.
Teach us to put away all bitterness and misunderstandings as we endeavor to move our State forward in the hopes and dreams of our children so they may come to fruition in our security and peace. May we draw our citizens together as one community and dwell in the fellowship of the Prince of Peace. May the true spirit of love, of statesmanship, of brotherhood rule our hearts, guide our thoughts and control our lives so that we may become real servants to all mankind. Amen.
June 13, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Blust
Heavenly Father, we just come before You at the start of another session of the North Carolina House and we ask Your blessing upon this Assembly. And Father, many of the issues and questions we deal with are complex and we have legitimate differences of opinions and ways of looking at things. And we just want to humble ourselves before You knowing that we aren’t always up to the task. We don’t always have the answers and we ask for Your wisdom upon these proceedings so that we can somehow deliberate and do the right thing and be of service to the people of this State.
We, Father, particularly ask for Your blessings upon those who are overseas in harm’s way in our defense of freedom, and we ask that You just build a wall around them and grant Your safety and Your protection.
And again we ask Your blessing upon this proceeding this day. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
June 14, 2012
The following remarks and prayer are offered by
Representative Glen Bradley
Baruch atah b’shem Adonai. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!
Paul teaches in First Corinthians: “But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you;’ or again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:20-25)
All too often we forget that every single member in a body is the most important member in that body. It is easy to say that, because we disagree with someone, that they are not relevant or that they do not belong or that they serve no purpose. Lest we forget that pride goeth before the fall, let us remember that in any body the loss of even the least member is a handicap to all members, and push forward in the spirit of unity, not for ourselves but for the people we serve and for the great State of North Carolina. Let us now come to accord in prayer:
O Heavenly Father, most Holy Almighty God, thank You for the blessings with which You have blessed us to live in a country where we are free to seek Your face, and for Your daily blessings and sustainment but for which we would be unable to gather here on this day.
Bless us this day with Your divine wisdom to discern right and truth, the courage of Your Spirit with the conviction to defend liberty and to pursue justice without fear. Guide us and keep us in the paths of righteousness, truth and courage, and grant us, O Lord, the Spirit, not of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.
Lead us, O Lord, in the paths of righteousness, not to seek out what is good for ourselves alone but what is good for all the people of the State of North Carolina, the United States, and the whole human family around the world wherewith we serve one another in the spirit of love and fellowship.
Lead us in Your ways that are beyond our ways, and in Your footsteps such that we do not steal, or kill, or destroy, but that the people we are sworn to serve might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
And fill us, O Lord, in the grace of Your Spirit that we may be united in the purpose of service, that we might serve not only one another and our constituencies, but all the people of North Carolina in the things that are right and good and which will bring You honor, Almighty Lord. For we know in faith that with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Thank you, O Lord, and we ask this and all things in Your Heavenly Name above all names, known to many as HaShem, Adonai, the Lord God, and whom I personally know as Yeshua, Moshiach, Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, God with us. Amen.
June 18, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marcus Brandon
Dear Father God, we thank You for the opportunity of prayer. We thank You for the opportunity to serve in this great Body. We thank You for the opportunity to serve the great State of North Carolina and all the people in it. We thank You for the opportunity to do Your work and to make sure that Your will on this earth is being done.
Father, we ask in Your Name that You would help us this week as we continue to move about our business that we’d make good, conscious decisions. And Father, we ask that You’d help us this week understand the plight of people, understand where people are coming from and the reference point of people, and make decisions according to that.
Father, we ask this all in Your Name we pray. Amen.
June 19, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative William Brawley
Thomas Moore was a man of conscience. He was a scholar, a jurist. He rose to become Lord High Chancellor of England to King Henry the VIII. In a disagreement of conscience he resigned that position and it cost him his life. One of his surviving works is a prayer that works very well for us, and it’s appropriate for this time. It’s also short and to the point. If you would join me.
“Those things, gracious Lord, that we pray for, grant us grace to strive for. Amen.”
June 20, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rayne Brown
This prayer was written by a courageous man of God and Pastor of Central Baptist Church, the Reverend Ryan Bennett. Reverend Bennett lives in Representative Harry Warren’s district, but he ministers in the 81st and we are very thankful to have him as a part of our community.
“Our Father and our God, we take a moment to come to You in prayer. Lord, we ask for Your guidance as we govern this great State. Help us to do our best to be leaders for the people of North Carolina and to do our best to be followers of You.
“History shows us what happens to nations and governments that turn their backs on You and go against the instruction of Your Word. Lord, Your Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:18 ‘where there is no vision the people perish.’ We pray that, with Your help, we will serve with integrity, honesty and humility, as always understanding that while we are privileged– so privileged–to do the work we do, we are never, ever entitled.
“Lord, we pray for every person that is represented here today and for the State that we love so much. Keep us ever mindful of the responsibility that You have given us. We ask that You would encourage us when we need to be encouraged, direct us when we need direction, lift us up when we falter and give us strength when we grow weak.
“Thank You for hearing this prayer, and we have the faith to thank You in advance for answering it. We pray all of this in the most powerful Name of all, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
June 21, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Angela Bryant
Let us breathe in and let out that miracle of the breath of life and calm our hearts and minds for a moment of prayer and reflection. This is my mother’s prayer and I pray this prayer in honor of all mothers.
“God of our mothers and our fathers whose Spirit has sustained us throughout the generations, we thank Thee for health and strength and for this day with its fresh opportunities for work and service. Heal and restore those who are recovering from or facing illnesses, injuries and losses.
We pray for Thy help and guidance as we face the duties to be done, the decisions to be made, the temptations that may beset us and the disappointments that await us. Guide us, strengthen us and keep us, and grant that in all things we may act according to Thy will.
Bless us, Creator God, to Thy service and keep us ever mindful of the needs of others. Amen.”
June 25, 2012
The following prayer if offered by
Representative Justin P. Burr
Dear Lord, we thank You for allowing us to be present in this place and for the honor to serve the citizens of North Carolina as we come together for what we hope will be the last full week of session and to close out the biennium. We humbly ask for Your guidance and Your wisdom in our deliberations on important issues affecting the people of our State. I pray that, through Your guiding hands, that we do what is pleasing and right in Your sight.
Last, but most importantly, I pray that You will be with each and every citizen of our State who is serving in the military, and especially those who are still in harm’s way and their families. Lord, I also ask that you’d be with some of our neighbors to the south–the South Carolina National Guardsmen who were killed or injured in Afghanistan last week. Please watch over those three families suffering from this tragic loss and those five men who were wounded in the attack, and their families, including my own. I pray for your healing and comfort for all those soldiers and for those families.
In Jesus’ Name, my Savior, amen.
June 26, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jeff Collins
Our Father, we do thank You on this beautiful, nice, cool, un-humid day that we have today for Your marvelous care, Lord, even as that’s expressed in the thunderstorms we had last night that bring us the rain that we need. So often, Father, we don’t get what we want necessarily, but we know that You’re more wise than we are and we get what we need. We thank You for that.
We pray for wisdom upon all who are gathered here today as we try to make decisions in the best interest of the citizens of this State. We know that we don’t have the wisdom individually or collectively to do that without Your guidance, so we pray for that guidance today and each day while we’re in session.
In our Lord’s Name we pray. Amen.
June 27, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jimmy Dixon
Our kind Father in Heaven, we pause at the beginning of this session and have a desire to give Thee thanks for the wonderful freedoms and opportunities and liberties that we enjoy that allow us to assemble here today to do the people’s business. We thank Thee, Father, for the many things that have been done in the past to preserve freedom and liberty that we might now be the beneficiaries of great effort, great sacrifice by many who have gone before us.
We ask Thee to bless us with an abundance of Thy Spirit that the decisions that we make might be in harmony with Thy will and beneficial to the people of North Carolina, and we do it in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
June 28, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Lord, we thank You that You’ve brought us here today, another day, to lead Your people, to serve faithfully and admirably, to work together to come to compromises. I pray, Lord, that in our fatigue You will still give us wisdom, justice, faithfulness and fairness.
I ask these things personally in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
June 29, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Nelson Dollar
This morning in prayer I’ll read some Scriptures from The Runner’s Bible.
“Wisdom and might are His.” “Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary, in Whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.” “O the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable in His judgments, and in His ways past finding out.” “The Word is true from the beginning.” “The Word of the Lord is living and active.”
May the wisdom of God’s living Word be with us today. Amen.
July 2, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Shirley Randleman
It has been my pleasure to serve with each of you, and I’ll leave you with a poem by an unknown author entitled, “Life’s Book.”
Life’s Book
No matter what else you are doing
From cradle days through to the end,
You are writing your life’s secret story–
Each day sees another page penned.
Each month ends a thirty-page chapter,
Each year means the end of a part–
And never an act is misstated
Or even one wish of the heart.
Each day when you wake, the book opens,
Revealing a page clean and white–
What thoughts and what words and what doings
Will cover its pages by night?
God leaves that to you–you’re the writer–
And never a word shall grow dim,
Till the day you write the word Finish,
And give your Life’s Book back to him.
(Author Unknown)
O God, when we come before You, we seldom thank You for the challenges You place in our lives. We ask that You grant us the ability to recognize these challenges as opportunities to do those things which are pleasing to You. And as we write our Life’s Book, may the pages be filled with positive rather than negative entries.
We ask this in the Name of Your Son. Amen.
July 3, 2012
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Leo Daughtry
The Lord be with you.
O Lord, we frequently pray The Lord’s Prayer where we petition that Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Many times, Lord, we substitute our own will instead of Yours. We overlook that You teach us to pursue what is best for Your kingdom, such as compassion for the poor and sick and service to others. And You have put us in this ideal place to do Your will. Forgive us, Lord, when we fail.
And finally, as a great preacher once said, let us be mindful that upon the highways of life, it is the one who dims their lights first that is the better of us all. Amen.
2013 Session
January 9, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest
Please join me in prayer.
Our Gracious and Merciful Heavenly Father, we humble ourselves before You in this solemn occasion as we acknowledge that You are the sovereign God of the universe. We acknowledge that You ordained this moment before the foundation of the earth and even before the beginning of time. And we acknowledge, Lord, that for Your purposes You establish leaders and You depose leaders.
We thank You, God, for this day You created, and we ask that You lead, guide and direct these Representatives that You have appointed for such a time as this. You tell us in Romans Chapter 12 to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, that this is our spiritual act of worship and we are not to conform to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Lord, these men and women whom You have called have made great sacrifices to be in this position of leadership, and we ask that You bless them with great wisdom as they perform their duties in the House. As Your Word also tells us, if we lack wisdom, all we have to do is ask You and You will give us wisdom generously without reproach.
We ask that You protect these leaders from the follies and temptations of this world and You protect their families, especially during times when they are separated from one another.
Lord, will You establish new relationships, build friendships and grant understanding that stretches beyond political boundaries and the timeframe of this session, and break down any walls of potential incivility.
Now Lord, we pray that Your hand of favor will be upon this North Carolina House of Representatives during this 2013 Session and that the decisions they make and the laws they establish will honor You and bless the people of this great State.
I offer this prayer in the Name of my Lord, Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
January 30, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Pittman
God’s blessing on one and all. Let us pray.
Almighty God, our Father, Who alone rules over all creation, we thank You and praise You for all of Your blessings to us. We thank You for the love of Your Spirit Who sustains us day by day.
Lord, we need that power in our lives as we have been chosen to govern this great people in the State of North Carolina. There are things we need to remember from Your Word, O God, and we pray that You would help us remember them on this day, particularly, when the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 13 that there is no power except what is ordained by God, that there is no authority but Him. Help us to remember that the authority given to us is limited. You gave us authority for that which is good and right in Your sight. You do not give us authority to violate the rights of our citizens, but rather the authority to uphold their rights.
Your Word also tells us in Proverbs 25:26 that, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.” Help us to be righteous. Help us to draw closer to You, to be filled with Your Spirit, Your truth, and with Your love for our fellow human beings, that their best interest will always be in our hearts, our minds and in all that we do and say, and that in all things we may please You first, knowing that Jesus Christ is the One to Whom we shall give account for how we govern. Help us.
In His Name we pray. Amen.
January 31, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Robert Brawley
Good morning. Let us bow our heads a moment.
Dear Lord, we come here this morning with thankful hearts for this dear Country we call America. We thank You for being there as we face opportunities and challenges. And Lord, You have called us to serve You by sharing the good news of Your love with others. May we do that according to Your will by our daily words and actions. Forgive us where we have failed in this calling. We ask that You grab us again and again, enable us to live our lives consistent with Your perfect love as we work together for solutions.
In Thy Name we pray. Amen.
February 4, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bert Jones
May we join in prayer.
Our Father and our God, we gather again in this House of the people. We are those that have been entrusted with great responsibility. We ask that You grant us with much godly wisdom and that we will govern rightly in Your sight according to Your Word. And we know from Your Word that You are able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Father, we pray that Your Spirit will be the guiding influence that will govern the tone and the actions of this General Assembly. Likewise, we pray for our Governor and all the members of our Executive Branch of government, as well as for our Supreme Court and all the Judicial Branch.
We remember those that came before us. We honor the good and repent of the evil. We ask for Your forgiveness and we pray that You will look upon our State with favor. We will echo the words that begin our State Constitution as we humble ourselves and honor You, Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of nations.
We are thankful to You for our liberties and we are dependent upon You for the continuation of those liberties. We acknowledge that our rights do not come from governments of men or of laws, but that our rights come from You, Almighty God.
Father, this evening we celebrate the 103rd year history of the Boy Scouts of America. We celebrate the timeless godly values that are expressed in the twelve points of the Scout Law that we will discuss, and we pray that You will help us as servant leaders to demonstrate these in our own lives. The Scout Promise begins, “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God.” May that promise be our prayer, as well.
With the knowledge that others will offer their prayers as they choose, I offer my prayer in the Name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 5, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Annie Mobley
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men, we acknowledge and bewail our manifest sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed by thought, word and deed against Thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us.
We do earnestly repent and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us. Have mercy upon us; have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. For Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is in the past and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please Thee in the newness of life.
To the honor and glory of Thy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
February 6, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jon Hardister
Lord, we pray for Your guidance as we conduct our business in this Chamber. We pray that You provide us with wisdom as we make our decisions. We pray that we can work together despite our differences to move our State in the right direction.
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
February 7, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Glazier
This is an adaptation of the prayer, “Where Can We Find Holiness?”
“There is holiness when we love and serve without any thought of reward or hope for personal gain. There is holiness when we promote family harmony and when we seek to unite others near and far. There is holiness when we share with others our resources, our ideas and our enthusiasm. There is holiness when we are willing to be laughed at for what we believe in. There is holiness when we relieve suffering, visit the sick and comfort the grieved. There is holiness when we remember the lonely and neglected and bring cheer into a dark corner. There is holiness when we sacrifice time and energy to teach our children. And there is holiness when we pray in truth and humility with the strength and grace to lead and not follow, to act and not just talk, and to remind ourselves that each day brings a new opportunity to be a better person.”
And let us say, amen.
February 11, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jason Saine
Dear Heavenly Father, great Architect of the universe, please bless this House and every member and their family. And as we travel back and forth, to and from our work and our district, and out of our district, here in Raleigh and elsewhere, look after our families and each one of us. Look after us as we interact with each other and we debate–sometimes lively–but understand that each and every one of us has pledged to serve You.
In Your Name we pray. Amen.
February 12, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Edgar Starnes
Our Kind and Heavenly Father, indeed we are grateful for this day that You have blessed us with. We are thankful for our health without which we would not be able to serve You or our fellow man as we consider the bills that come before this Body. Lord, we ask that You will give us wisdom so that we can make wise decisions so that the people of this Sate will benefit.
These things we ask in Jesus’ Name, the greatest Savior. Amen.
February 13, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bob Steinberg
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let us pray.
Almighty God, we pray Thee do endow us with faith in the providence which heretofore shaped the destiny of our Republic. Enable us to realize the sanctity of our mission and understand that the measure of our power is the measure of our Christian virtues. We are conscious of a responsibility that is beyond our wisdom and strength and calls for a power outside of ourselves, even Thine own enlightening power. This help we seek by our humble petitions.
Grateful for past mercies, we wait for new guidings, deeper insight into the truth and a wider wisdom of our possibilities. The problems that face us would intervade and dishearten us, but for the confidence we have and the assurance of Thy Word and Thou will. Guide us by Thine eyes and lead us by Thy hand and give us strength as our day. Fulfill this promise: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
These things we ask in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 14, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dennis Riddell
Happy Valentine’s Day, friends. I’d like to read from 1st Corinthians 13.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
“Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Charity never fails.”
(1 Corinthians 13:1-8)
Please join me in prayer
Father, we thank You for this day, for every day is a gift from You. This day on Valentine’s Day when we think a lot about love, we understand that we love because You first loved us, and that if we will love You, we will keep Your commandments–not just the ones that we find agreeable or easy, but all of them. We are to love You with all of our heart, mind, body and soul, and our neighbor as our self.
So we come before You on this day for wisdom for our President, all those in federal office and service, for our Governor, those of us privileged and honored enough to be in this Body as servants of Yours in government, the Senate, other officers in State Government, and down to the local Magistrates, City Council members, and County Commissioners. We pray for wisdom, we pray for discernment, we pray for the spirit of love.
In God’s Name we pray. Amen.
February 18, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marilyn Avila
Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we pray to You this night as our God, Creator and Sustainer of Life. As we are gathered tonight in this place of power, we thank You for each person that has been elected to serve. We ask that Your guidance and wisdom be granted to us in great measure. Protect us from pride and ego as we serve the people of North Carolina. Make us always aware, as we craft legislation and pass laws, of their impact on the lives of the citizens in our State.
Be with our families as many of us are away from home during the week. Protect them in all things and give them peace in our absence.
We ask a special blessing upon the men and women who are willing to place their lives in harm’s way to defend the freedoms we hold so dear. Place a hand of protection around each of them and keep them in Your care. Bless especially their families as they, too, serve through their sacrifice. Grant them comfort and relieve their anxieties.
This I pray in the Name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 19, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Blust
Our Heavenly Father, as we gather in this Chamber to do the people’s business this session, we face enormous obstacles and sobering realities that challenge us beyond our limited capacities. We often fall short of what we ought to be as the Legislators the people of this State elected us to be. So we humble ourselves before You today and pray that You will endow us with the wisdom and the strength we need to overcome our weaknesses and frailties so that we can carry out our duties to serve the people of this great State.
We also ask that You grant wisdom to those in government in other states and in our Nation’s capital, and that You give strength to the people in this great land who are struggling in these difficult times.
We pray for Your special blessing and protection upon those who voluntarily place themselves in harm’s way to ensure our freedom and our safety, both at home and overseas.
We thank You profusely for all of the marvelous blessings You have provided us in this land of the free, and may we never forget to honor You from Whom all blessings flow.
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
February 20, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Bell
“God of weary years,
God of our silent tears,
God who has thus far brought us on our way;
Thou who has by Thy might brought us into the light,
Keep us in the path, we pray, that straight and narrow path.
Don’t let us become drunk from the wine of the world
That we forget about Thee.
Help us to remain true to our God
And true to this land that we love.”
(Adapted from “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” by James Weldon Johnson)
O God, as we begin this new day of work in this Chamber, help us not to weaken ourselves by anger or cheapen ourselves by boasting or pretense. Help us to be real in our work for the citizens of this State. Grant us more knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the numerous tasks before us. We need Your divine guidance and direction as we deliberate over issues and ideas that we hope are in the best interest of all citizens. May our aim always be less to win praise and accolades for ourselves than to further the good and happiness for our fellow beings.
Bless each family represented here in this Chamber. Grant them good health and grant them peace and comfort.
As we journey through many uncertain ventures of this world, help us to always be certain that You are our God, that You are our Father, our Savior, and our Lord. Amen.
February 21, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Carl Ford
Father God, we thank You so much for this day. Thank You for Your grace, mercy and love towards us. Thank You for Your Son dying for our sins.
We pray that You’ll guide and direct us as we make decisions throughout this day, this week, this month and these coming years. We will do them to bring honor and glory to You.
We pray that You will bless everyone that is here. All of those who have gone home, we pray that You will give them safe travel. God, bless every one of our families’ houses, our spouses, our children and grandchildren at home. We pray that You will bless our colleagues across the hall, the Governor and all of his staff.
We thank You so much, Lord, for what You do for us. We praise You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
February 25, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Justin P. Burr
Dear Lord, we thank You for allowing us to be present in this place for another week and for the honor to serve You and the citizens of North Carolina. As we come together to govern the State of North Carolina, we humbly ask for Your guidance and wisdom in our decision making. I pray that through Your guiding hands we will do what is pleasing and right. I pray for each and every citizen of our State and that You will love, support, guide, and bless each and every one of them.
In Jesus’ Holy Name, amen.
February 26, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Becky Carney
Members, I am going to share a prayer from the Senate prayers of Peter Marshall. Let us pray.
“With all of the resources of an infinite God available to them that ask Thee, forgive us, O Lord, for a lack of faith that begs for pennies when we could write checks for millions, that strikes a match when we could have the sun. Give us the faith to believe that there is no problem before us that Thy wisdom cannot solve. As Thou hast guided men and women in the past, so guide these men and women today. At every desk may there be the whisper of Thy council. Help the leaders to weigh their words, that their words may carry weight and, what is more, the echo of Thy will. Amen.”
(Peter Marshall, Former Chaplain of the United States Senate)
February 27, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Lord God Almighty, as we come before You today, I pray that You would make the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, as we serve the people of this great State, for You are our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
February 28, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jeff Collins
I’d like to reoffer a prayer first offered by President Thomas Jefferson from our Nation’s Capital on March 4th, 1801. Would you bow with me in prayer?
“Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning and pure manners.
“Save us from violence, discord and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
“Endow with Thy Spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.
“In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust indeed to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
(President Thomas Jefferson; A Prayer for the Nation; March 4, 1801)
March 4, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ken Waddell
Almighty God, my Maker and Redeemer, I ask for Your guidance for this Body of leaders and for Your eternal patience when we make decisions that are not representative of Your plan for all of us. I understand that in order to make decisions that will bode well for the majority we sometimes forget that the minority is also part of Your eternal plan.
Please grant us the good sense to realize that we are given the right of free choice in our decisions, but are not guaranteed that our decisions are always the best choice for all. I hope that all we do tonight will be reflective of that mission and am confident that with Your guidance we will succeed. I understand, as You do, that what we do in this life will echo for eternity. I remember that Jesus said, “What you do to the least of these you do also to me.” Amen.
March 5, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Lord, we each come to You today seeking many different things. Some of us seek health and healing for friends and family. Some of us seek financial relief for those we love, or maybe even for ourselves. Some of us are seeking news from absent or estranged loved ones or, closer to home, time with those we leave behind when we come here each week.
Whatever may be burdening us today, Lord, I ask You to help us set it aside as we start today’s session and dwell instead on these words of hope from the book of Isaiah: “Those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall soar on wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not be faint.”
I ask these things in the Name of my personal Lord and Savior–respecting all faiths– Jesus Christ. Amen.
March 6, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Donny Lambeth
Our most timely, Gracious Heavenly Father, we join together this day to give praise and thanks for the many shared blessings of life. We give thanks for another day as together we strive to make this great State we represent a better place in which to live, to work and to raise a family; for another day to watch our schools as teachers challenge our students to excel; for another day to support our military and ask Your blessings upon them as they protect our freedoms; and for another day to smell the blooming of spring flowers and the blossoming of new trees as we transition from one season to another.
We also ask for Your blessings upon these Legislators, our leadership and each family member who supports us as we strive to make the right and best decisions for our citizens. Now we ask for guidance as we take bold steps towards a brighter future.
In Your Name we pray. Amen.
March 7, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marcus Brandon
Today’s prayer is inspired by my football coach and SEA leader, Mickie Atkinson, who always instilled in us to love, forgive and be a blessing.
Dear Father God, we thank You for the opportunity of prayer. We thank You for the opportunity of love. We thank You for the ability to forgive, and we thank You for the opportunity of being a blessing.
As we go through these days in the General Assembly, give us the strength to realize that our example comes from Christ of love, and may we love one another like He loved us, that He gave his life for us. May we understand that we are to forgive–to forgive ourselves and to forgive others. And we remember that we are here to be a blessing–a blessing to our Father, a blessing to each other and a blessing to other people.
In His Name we pray. Amen.
March 11, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Susan Fisher
May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships so that you may seek truth boldly and love from deep within your heart.
May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom and peace among all people.
May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation or the loss of all they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.
And the blessing of God be with you and remain with you forevermore. Amen.
March 12, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jacqueline Schaffer
Heavenly God, Lord, Father, we thank You for this opportunity, Lord, to come together as this Body that You have assembled. Lord God, we recognize that You are a God of creation, that You are holy, that You are blameless, Lord, that power and might are in Your hands and that no one can stand against You, Father. So we give You great glory today.
Lord, we ask that You fill this room, Father. We pray that You would lead us, Father. Guide us and direct us in Your ways, Lord. We pray that You would help us discharge this duty with honor, with humility, Father, and I pray that You guide and direct us as we make these decisions before us.
We thank You so much for all that You have given us, for this opportunity and also for Your gift of salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ.
It is in His Name that we pray. Amen.
March 13, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Susan Martin
Please bow your heads and pray with me.
Lord, Your Word says, “I will thank You in front of the great assembly and I will praise You before all of the people.”
Lord, we come before You with thanksgiving and praise for who You are and all that You have done at the cross to allow us to walk boldly up to Your throne of grace and have this relationship with You. Lord, we thank You so much for the many blessings You have poured out on this Nation, this great State and on all of the families represented in this Body.
We pray for Your wisdom and Your discernment as we go about the work of the people. Your Word says in 2nd Chronicles, “Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”
And Lord, I pray from Your Word, “to keep a clear mind in every situation, don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord, work at telling others the good news and fully carry out the ministry God has given you,” from 2nd Timothy.
Lord, we have struggled at times with disappointment in different areas. Let us recognize and be humbled by the authority You have placed in us. All authority comes from You and we serve at Your discretion.
And help us, Lord, to serve boldly and properly, that our hearts are in the right place serving the great people of Yours. We thank You for this opportunity and pray for Your wisdom on our Body today. Amen.
March 14, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Mark Brody
Let us pray.
Gracious and Sovereign Lord, we pray as Your servants in this Legislature that You might keep us faithful to the solemn office with which we have been charged. Strengthen and uphold us.
Guide and direct us to fulfill Your purposes according to Your Word. Give us counsel and aid that we may preserve the integrity and honor of our State, protect our neighbors’ best interest and uphold and preserve all life You have given us. Grant us firmness to maintain and promote law and justice, and determination to strive for the good of our State and the betterment of its citizens.
Give us wisdom in the hours of decision that we may speak and decide on matters in the spirit of unity and the bond of peace. Give us serenity in the face of crisis. Guard and defend us that we may serve the security and wellbeing of the people You have given us to serve.
Make us leaders of a people who will do Your righteous and holy will in our State and our Nation. We ask in the Name of Your Holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
March 18, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jean Farmer-Butterfield
Please join me and bow your heads as I bring a prayer of peace.
Almighty, Everlasting God, the Protector of all who put their trust in Thee, thank You for allowing us to be in this historic session. We come first and foremost thanking You for having allowed us the privilege of this historic day. We beseech Thee on this eve to keep in Thy sustaining care all who are present and their families.
We pray for patience, courage and a devotion to fulfill our duties that we may better serve those we are entrusted to speak for. We pray for guidance in all decision making, that You might be glorified. Fill us, O God, with Thy Spirit that we may be sure in our reckonings, unwavering in our duties and high in purpose while upholding the honors of our districts and our beloved State.
Let the rain come and wash away the grudges, the bitter hatreds held and nurtured over generations. Let the rain wash away the memory of hurt we have encountered. Then, Master, let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows. Let the warmth of the sun heal us wherever we are broken. Let the sun burn away the fog so that we can see each other clearly, so that we can see beyond labels, gender, age or ethnicity.
Help us to see all people as our neighbors. Please allow us to see that there are more than two points of view–the one that’s wrong and ours–and that there is always room for compromise. Bind us together in love that You showed when You went to the cross for our sins. We shall forever give Your Name, our Heavenly Father, the glory and honor and praise.
Together let us say, amen.
March 19, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Leo Daughtry
The Lord be with you.
(Response): And also with you.
Let us pray.
O Lord, we often ask the question, “Are you a Baptist, Methodist, Buddhist, or Catholic? Are you a Seven Day Adventist, a Sikh, a Hindu, or a Quaker?” Whatever religion we may be, we trust that You have no pre-conditions, established borders, rigid denominations, oaths or restrictions. Your love is not based on our membership in any church or synagogue. You love us all.
Likewise, we know that the Resurrection as explained in the Gospels happened and that the Resurrection happens in our hearts every day and every minute, and that is the real meaning of Easter.
Even when we think we are too smart or too powerful to need Your love, You continue to speak to us as You make us and then You walk with us silently out of the night. Amen.
March 20, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative James H. Langdon, Jr.
Let us pray.
Lord, thank You for the opportunity You give us to serve You each day. Bless us with Your guidance as we serve the citizens of our great State, North Carolina. May the decisions we make be the right ones for our citizens and our State.
Lord, bless us with the wisdom and patience to work together to improve North Carolina. Lord, bless us with Your wonderful love and, because we have Your love in our hearts, let us show it in our relationships with each other and do the business of the State.
Today is the first day of spring, and as we see the beauty of the world You created burst forward as this new season starts, let it renew our spirits and bring happiness to each of us and our friends and families.
I ask all of this in the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
March 21, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Chris Whitmire
May we pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, please forgive us of our sins. Lord, we thank You for the many blessings that You’ve given us and, Lord, we thank You for the privilege of being in America. Lord, today and for the months to follow we ask that You lead, guide and direct us. Give us the wisdom to do the right things for the right reasons and also to set the example that we would hope our children would follow.
In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
March 25, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Torbett
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, the prayer this evening is an excerpt from the first prayer of the Continental Congress in 1774. Let us pray.
“Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the Name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.”
(Reverend Jacob Duché, First Prayer of the Continental Congress, 1774)
March 26, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative William Brawley
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. For those of you that will, join me in prayer.
Father, we are grateful there is no snow today and for the approach of spring that will banish the cold of winter for a while. We are grateful for the seasons that teach us that life, like the weather, is both warm and cold, stormy and calm.
We pray for wisdom to do Your will today, that as we work for those we serve, we reduce the storms of life and help the good days last just a little longer.
We each call on You in our own way; I call on You in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
March 27, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Tricia Cotham
Good afternoon. This prayer is written by my colleague back in Charlotte, Ms. Amanda Davis, who is a graduate of Charlotte Christian and has a Masters in Scripture and Theology from St. Mary’s Divinity School. Let’s pray.
“Heavenly God, we thank You for entrusting with us the responsibility of leading the people of North Carolina, and we ask that You would restore within us the wisdom, discernment and integrity we need to serve them well.
“As we open this Session, we ask that You would refresh us with hope, reinvigorate us with endurance, and renew us with vision. Unify us, Lord, in purpose and grant us courage to become leaders who act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. Teach us how to defend the weak, maintain the rights of the poor and proclaim liberty for the oppressed until every woman, child and man has the opportunity to realize his or her potential in full freedom. Open our eyes to see Your image in those we serve, as well as in each other.
“Today, we honor the faithfulness and protection You have afforded to our State by praying as You taught us:
‘Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
March 28, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ted Davis
Good afternoon. Would everyone please bow your head and pray with me.
Almighty God, I humbly pray that You grant Your wisdom to all of us whose task it is to make decisions that will influence all the lives of those who live in the great State of North Carolina. Give us the humility to seek Your will. Make us slow to anger and willing to understand another point of view. Give us the courage to do what we believe in our hearts is the right thing to do. May we always be sensitive to the needs of everyone. And Lord, be patient and offer us guidance in our search for truth and honor.
I ask this in the Name of Your Holy Son and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
April 1, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rena Turner
May we pray.
Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for being in our midst tonight in this place. And Lord, more importantly we thank You for allowing us to be in Your midst. We pray, Lord, for Your wisdom, Your guidance, Your truth in what we are doing. Help us, each one, to examine our thoughts, our motives and make them pure in Your light.
For these things we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
April 2, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Becky Carney
Good afternoon. Let us pray.
O God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come! Almighty God and Father, Creator, as we gather today to conduct the people’s business, we are reminded of Your unending love, wisdom and awesomeness.
We ask that You look over these proceedings and guide us so that our actions are worthy of Your praise. We ask that You work among us and through us so that what we do in these Chambers and the effects these actions will have on our fellow citizens will be done in a way that will give hope to the hopeless, will inspire dreams of the dreamers, will strengthen the backs of the laboring, will bring wisdom to the teachers and will give guidance to the leaders. For if the work of this Body is to make our State a better place, then through our actions we should emulate Your love, Your compassion and Your teachings.
Almighty Creator of the heavens and earth, we ask Your blessings on each of us, on the areas of North Carolina we represent, and on all of us gathered here today. Keep us and guide us and fill our hearts with gratitude.
And I ask that You accept my gratitude for life from the bottom of my still beating heart. Amen.
April 3, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rayne Brown
The following prayer was written by a Reverend Mike McDaniel of Currytown Baptist Church in Davidson County. Let us pray.
“Father, we come to You today with humble hearts asking for Your wisdom. We thank You for Your blessings upon our Nation and our State and our individual lives. We ask that You show favor–show us favor today as we make decisions that will affect the citizens of our State. May we do all things to bring You honor and glory. Thank you for the trust that You have placed in us to govern the affairs of men. Help us to keep in mind that where much is given, much is required.”
We ask all of these things in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
April 4, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Alma Adams
This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Let us pray.
Father, we thank You for this day. It is a day that we’re grateful to have, one that we’ve not seen before. We thank You for life, for health and strength, for family and friends and the opportunity to serve and do Your will as servants of Your people. We remain grateful to You and acknowledge that You have provided this opportunity of servant leadership for each of us, not because of any good or gracious thing that we might have done, but only because of Your goodness and Your mercy–and we thank You for Your tender-loving mercy.
Lord, Your words are true and You credit righteousness to those who trust in You. Guide us back to You when we fall into disobedience and teach us how to examine our ways. You have said in Your Word that obedience is better than sacrifice, so help us to know the difference.
Lord, we’re meeting today to conduct matters of business for Your people. Guide our hearts and our minds in the spirit of fairness, right thought and speech. Impart Your supreme wisdom upon our activities so that our affairs may reach a successful conclusion. And help us always to remember Galatians 6:10 which says, “As we have opportunity, we should do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of faith.”
Thank You for being our source of guidance today and in the days to come. We ask all of these things in the Precious Name of Your Son. Amen.
April 8, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Kelly Alexander
I’d like to preface this prayer this evening by a brief passage from Abraham Lincoln’s first Inaugural: “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”
Let every heart be still; let every head be bowed, as I lift up this Civil War-era prayer that continues to resonate today.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps; They have built Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence in the dim and flaring lamps, His day is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His Judgment Seat. Oh! Be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, The glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on.
Amen.
(The Battle Hymn of the Republic, by Julia Ward Howe)
April 9, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jerry Dockham
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. I want to share with you a poem that has meant a lot to me over the years. It was written by a former Member of this House from Scotland County, John Charles McNeill, who was a student and professor at Wake Forest University. It’s entitled “Sundown.” Would you pray with me please?
Sundown
Hills, wrapped in gray, standing along the west;
Clouds, dimly lighted, gathering slowly;
The star of peace at watch above the crest– Oh, holy, holy, holy!
We know, O Lord, so little what is best;
Wingless, we move so lowly;
But in thy calm all–knowledge let us rest–
Oh, holy, holy, holy!
Amen.
(by John Charles McNeill, 1874-1907)
April 10, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Nelson Dollar
Members, let us join in prayer.
Lord, with the showers of April and the warmth of longer days, the earth shakes the cold of winter and we enjoy a birth of spring which renews our world in the colorful shades of budding trees and blooming flowers. So, too, do Your servants need a renewal of their spirit.
Lord, here we are–Your vessels; fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Fix our thoughts and actions on Your righteous purposes. Grant us both the power of knowledge and the prudence of wisdom. Teach us how to be truly good shepherds leading Your people.
Lord, You have entrusted us with a great responsibility. Let our minds be fixed on Your Word, let our hearts be open to Your leading and let our hands be ready to do Your good works.
And all God’s people said: Amen.
April 11, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Faircloth
Please pray with me.
Almighty God, we are finishing up a very busy week of work and business of the people back home. Those that sent us here gave us their trust, gave us their instructions and expect that we do our very best. We ask that You intervene as we do our work here. Give us the guidance, give us the thought process, give us the kind heart and all those things we need to make the right decisions. Let us do the work correctly as we’re here and be proud to go back home to our friends and our families.
Let us also ask You that You look upon our Nation which is struggling in the world today, which has many problems–not problems that can’t be solved, but problems that at least have to be addressed with Your guidance and Your grace.
Be kind to those in our name who are less fortunate and who are homeless and who are suffering and who have mental illnesses or physical disabilities. Please be with them. We love them all; we are all Your children.
In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
April 15, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Elmer Floyd
All heads bowed, please.
Imbedded in the Book of Ecclesiastes: “There’s a time and a season for everything, a time for every purpose under the sun.” This is our season tonight. The people of this great State will render unto us their 2012 tax return. We here assembled must do our best for the 9.9 million citizens of this State. Our deliberation must provide hope. This is our moment in time to make sure the least of us is not overlooked during our deliberation.
This is Your servant’s prayer I lift up tonight. Amen.
April 16, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rosa Gill
This morning we started with William Wainwright’s Prayer Breakfast. Some of you joined us; thank you for attending. And today I want to continue with something that William Wainwright shared with me when I first came to the General Assembly in June of 2009. And this is his prayer he offered, or shared with us on June 12th, 2009. Let us bow our heads and humble our hearts.
“Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, we thank You for having watched over us and brought us safely to our place to work. We thank You for this new day of mercies and for all of Your blessings.
“Be with us this afternoon, O God, as we continue the work of this Chamber. Lead our discussion along the path of truthfulness. Guide our decisions along the trails of justice. Direct our actions along the avenues of fairness, compassion and virtue. And be Thou with us in all that we do.
“It is in Your Holy Name that we pray. Amen.”
April 17, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ken Goodman
There is probably no saint more revered and well-known in all of Christian history than St. Francis of Assisi. Today, Christians and many non-Christians alike celebrate the life and legacy of this medieval Italian man who is known the world over for his exemplary life of holiness and the model of peaceful living he leaves to us nearly eight hundred years after his death. There is also probably no Christian prayer more popular, with the exception of the Lord’s Prayer, than the one that bears the name of this saint from Assisi: The Prayer of Saint Francis.
“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me so love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
“O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Amen.
(Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)
April 18, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Kelly Hastings
I started this personal tradition last biennium and, instead of saying a prayer, I’m just going to briefly read from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. The title is, “The Unheeded Secret.”
“The great enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ in the present day is the conception of practical work that has not come from the New Testament, but from the systems of the world in which endless energy and activities are insisted upon, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, ‘The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation, for lo, the Kingdom of God is within you, a hidden obscure thing.’ An active Christian worker too often lives in the shop window.”
And I’ll follow with this:
“You have no idea of where God is going to engineer your circumstances, no knowledge of what strain is going to be put on you–either at home or abroad–and if you waste your time in overactive energies instead of getting in to soak on the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, you will snap when the strain comes. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent on getting rooted and grounded in God, on the unpractical line, you will remain true to Him whatever happens.”
(Excerpts from “My Utmost for His Highest,” by Oswald Chambers)
April 22, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Mark Hollo
This prayer was written by members of my adult Sunday School class of Friendship Lutheran Church in Alexander County.
Peace be with you.
(Response): And also with you.
Let us pray.
“Heavenly Father, our State Constitution acknowledges that we are dependent upon You for every blessing, and we gathered here this day also recognize Your presence and our dependence upon You.
“We acknowledge also the presence of evil and darkness in the world, but we hold firmly to Your Promise that You are always with us. We pray for comfort and healing for those affected by the bombings in Boston and the explosion in West, Texas and all others who need Your healing touch.
“We ask for Your guidance for leaders of our Country and State. We pray for Barack, Joe, Pat, Dan, Phil and Thom. Bless them and us with strength of body, a thoughtful mind and a servant’s heart.
“Bless our families while we are apart and watch over them. Make our time here productive and our homecomings joyful.
“And all God’s people say: Amen.”
April 23, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Craig Horn
Let us go to God in prayer.
Dear Lord, we come to You this beautiful spring day in order to dedicate ourselves to the citizens of this State, to build goodwill and better friendships and to honor You, Father Almighty, in all that we say and do.
We ask that You grant us objectivity so that we might keep balance in our lives and in the life of our community. Grant us calm so that we may make reasoned decisions. Grant us a sense of duty so that we may remain ever mindful of our opportunity and our obligation to serve our citizens, our family and most of all You, dear Lord. Cause us to be ever humble in that service. Keep us always mindful of the enduring value of life.
Watch over those that come into harm’s way. Care for those who have suffered through no fault of their own and protect those that serve–many far from home.
Watch over our families, dear Lord. Keep them in Your care. And hold us, dear Lord– hold us in the palm of Your hand. Amen.
April 24, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Pat Hurley
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us to this place and moment in time. We know You bless us with the hours of our days; how we choose to use the time is up to each of us. Please give us the discernment, compassion, wisdom, kindness and love in the use of our time. Where there are those experiencing pain, sorrow, loneliness, heartache, hunger and other needs, please show Your love through us as we minister to those around us. Let us not be too busy to be aware of those who may need a smile, a tender touch, a kind word or someone to just listen to them.
As we serve our communities, our State and our Nation, please let us not forget that what is done for Your glory will endure. Please protect those serving in the military and give wisdom to leadership in our State, Nation and world. Please continue to bless America. Help us remember to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
In Jesus’ Precious Name, I pray. Amen.
April 25, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Verla Insko
Let us pray.
Guide us, O Thou Great Jehovah, for we are surely pilgrims in an unfamiliar land. We are jarred by the terror in Boston and saddened by the tragedies in Dallas and Newtown. We pray for all who suffered and lost loved ones. For those who grieve, we pray for comfort and hope; for those who fear, we pray for wisdom and courage. Bind up our wounds; heal our broken hearts.
Guide us to reject the response of hate and revenge, for hate builds a barrier that separates us from You and revenge eats at our soul. Guide us instead to the harder work of building bridges to people of all faiths and all races who share our dedication to liberty and justice for all.
We find strength and renewal in the many selfless acts of courage, the instinctive outpouring of generosity and compassion for those in need. We move forward stronger, more resilient, more grateful for this miraculous gift of life that comes from You.
Our lives are Your lives, O God. Our work is Your work. And may the work we do together in this Chamber on behalf of the people of North Carolina be acceptable in Your sight, O God, our Strength and our Redeemer.
Amen.
April 29, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Justin P. Burr
Thank you, Members. Let’s pray.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the opportunity to gather for another week to serve the citizens of this great State. And as we start our deliberations for the week, we just pray for Your guidance and Your wisdom and Your love and Your mercy.
We pray that You’ll watch over each and every member in this Chamber, our families back home and all the other citizens of this State, as well as all of our leaders across the Country and down to the communities. And as well, we pray for Mayor Foxx who is about to take on a new role in Washington, D. C., and we pray for all of those leaders in D. C. that You’ll give them guidance, dear Lord.
And we just ask that in Your Name and in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
April 30, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative David Lewis
Pray with me.
Lord of Providence, we thank You for the blessings of liberty and freedom giving us the opportunity to safely gather together today. We thank You for those men and women who have shared and sacrificed the time, talent and treasure You gave them and they invested to build the foundation of this great Republic. Lord, for the abundant and continuing blessings You give to us, we thank You.
We ask, Lord, that You extend Your protective hand to every man and woman serving in our military and keep them safe as they stand in harm’s way. We pray, Lord, for Your comforting hand to be placed upon our neighbors across this Nation and our world, who struggle with hardships and challenges.
We ask, Lord, that You please continue to watch over those assembled here today and that our actions and conduct be pleasing in Your sight. Lord, we pray for Your guidance so that all of us may have the knowledge and temperance to commit ourselves to truly working for justice for all.
Finally, Lord, please touch our hearts and remind us all here and across this nation that our mutual pathway to renewal is not a divisive assortment of us vs. them, but instead a nation of we in service to You and our fellow man. Amen.
May 1, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marvin Lucas
My fellow Legislators, as we prepare to make decisions that affect our nine and one-half million citizens of this State, I think we’d do well to reflect how we influence these citizens. I was compelled to think about how I affect citizens as I listened last week to Representative Jordan and his resolution on Doc Watson and how Doc, despite his limitations and, in fact, debilitation, if you would, to continue and strive on. And that reminded me of my favorite poet who had a debilitation–the Englishman John Milton. Milton said on his blindness:
“When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve my Maker…
‘Doth God exact day labor, light denied?’
I fondly ask…
Lest he return this returning chide;
‘God doth not need either man’s work or His own gifts.
Who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.”
(Sonnet XIX, “On His Blindness,” by John Milton, 1655)
So with our debilitations and our inability to sometimes understand the plight of our citizens and sometimes of our blindness, let us look to God for help.
Eternal God, we invoke Thy blessings upon these Your people. We ask You to give us the wisdom and the patience of Your servant Job as we wait for Your wisdom that descends from on high. Kind Father, help us to realize our limitations, help us to recognize our debilitations, and help us, kind Father, to look with favor upon those who are less than we are.
Father, we need Your grace. We need Your humbleness. We need a sense of humility to accept Your grace. Amen.
May 2, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Pat McElraft
Good afternoon. Members, today is a very special day for prayer. Today is the 62nd anniversary of the National Day of Prayer, and this year the theme for the National Day of Prayer is, “Pray for our Nation.” Please join me in that prayer.
God, thank You for the many blessings You have bestowed on our great Nation. We speak today, Lord, with a nationwide voice asking You for continued guidance on the leaders of our Country at the national, state and local level that we may lead with a humble spirit and as true public servants.
We pray for our military and our first responders and ask for Your special protection on them and their families.
God, we also ask that You heal the victims of the Boston bombings, the West, Texas explosion, and the Newtown shootings. May our Nation heal from all these recent tragedies, and may it not take a tragedy for us all to pull together and remember how special it is to be Americans. May we put aside our differences and remember that we are one Nation under God.
Thank you, God, for giving us this very special Nation. Thank you, God, for America. God, please continue to bless America. Amen.
May 6, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dana Bumgardner
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pasture: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. And yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for
Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You’ve anointed my
head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Now just let me say a short prayer.
(Psalm 23)
Thank You for every person that’s in this room tonight, that’s here because You said so. Thank You for helping us go the right way and do the right things, what we believe in our hearts are the right things to do to lead our State, our Nation, our communities forward. And we’re grateful for everything You’ve done for us and things that You do that we don’t know about.
In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
May 7, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jimmy Dixon
Our kind Father in Heaven, we pause before the beginning of this General Assembly session with the desire to thank Thee, Father, for the many blessings that Thou hast bestowed upon us. We thank Thee for the wonderful freedom and liberty that we enjoy in America. We’re grateful individually and collectively for the opportunity that we have to come together here and to represent the people of North Carolina.
We’re also thankful, Father, for the work of others in this Assembly and around these buildings. We thank Thee for the good work of the Sergeant at Arms and his staff. We’re grateful for the dedication of the Principal Clerk and her staff to serve this legislative Body. We thank Thee also, Father, for the custodians and the others who care for this building and those who care for the grounds and keep the building and the grounds in such good condition.
We thank Thee for each Representative here today. And Father, we ask that Thou would see fit to bless us with the necessary wisdom and discernment to make decisions that will benefit the people of North Carolina and be pleasing in Thy sight.
For this I pray, Lord, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
May 8, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jim Fulghum
May we pray. From a Christian hymn, “Near the Cross:”
O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadow o’re me.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river. Amen.
(Excerpts from “Near the Cross,” by Fanny Crosby)
May 9, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Susi Hamilton
Please pray with me.
Lord, I pray for all government officials and especially for the leaders of my own Country. I pray for the President, that he may conduct the affairs of national government with wisdom, bravery and true justice. I pray for the members of Congress that they may truly represent the needs of the people and work in harmony for the advancement of all men, women and children. I pray for the judges that rule the courts of our land that they may balance justice with mercy and civil law with divine mandate.
Grant all of our national, state, and local leaders the gifts of wisdom, justice, counsel and fortitude, that they may conduct the affairs of man in accord with the will of God. Grant to all men the gift of respect for lawful authority, justly exercised, that we may live as a united people, one Nation under God.
May all the governments of the world seek to reconcile power with the needs of society. May they all strive to form bonds of unity between countries, that we may one day share a united world of prosperity and peace. Amen.
May 13, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jimmy Dixon
Our kind Father in Heaven, we pause for a few moments before beginning this session to give Thee thanks for the many wonderful blessings that Thou hast bestowed upon us. We are grateful, Father, for the freedom and liberty which have allowed us to come here. We’re grateful for the freedom and liberty that allow those who disagree to express their disagreements.
We ask Thee, Heavenly Father, that we might have the discernment and the wisdom to conduct ourselves properly before Thee and in a manner that will be beneficial to ourselves, to our constituents and to the entire State of North Carolina.
We pray, Father, that Thou would look over and watch over Representative J.H. Langdon as he’s undergoing surgery at this moment. Would Thou please bless the physicians and others who are caring for him that they would do so in a manner that would be most beneficial to his complete recovery.
For this we do pray for in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
May 15, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Ray Starling
(General Counsel for North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis)
Let us pray.
Almighty God, we come to You this morning in a moment of quiet reflection hoping to be made more fully aware of our infirmities, shortcomings and reliance upon You. In the busy work of governing through the civil law, we confess that it is easy to forget that our time here on this crazy, backwards-thinking world is so brief, particularly compared with Your understanding of time. Forgive us for that.
We are thankful for the freedoms that have been granted to us as Americans and North Carolinians. We are thankful for the good health of those that serve in this Body and for the good health of those who serve those that serve in this Body.
By way of supplication, Lord, we ask that You be with these Members and all those involved in this legislative process. Be with their heads as they think about doing the right thing. Help them think quickly when thinking quickly is needed, slowly when thinking slowly is needed and not at all when instincts and intuition should play a larger role.
Be with their ears as they listen to the debate of their fellow man and discern how they will make their decisions. Be with and guard their and our mouths so that You would be pleased with what comes out of them. Be with their and our fingers as they shuffle papers, push a green or red button, type an e-mail or request time to be heard. Be with their and all of our bottoms, Lord, as we sit and wait for the work here to be done. Keep us on them when sitting is right and prod us off of them when we need to do more. Be with their feet as they make their way around this building, and as they return to their homes to let those who have sent them here be made aware of what has and has not been done.
In closing, we are reminded of the words of James 1:5 which states that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask You for it, and that You will grant it to us generously and without finding fault. Lord, You know we need Your wisdom, and we all agree that we need it generously.
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May 16, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Deborah Ross
Members, and particularly the freshmen, I’ve told this story before, but I will tell you this. When I was a freshman, one of the pastors in my district, his wife gave me a book of prayers. And she told me that she thought that they would come in handy in my political career, and they certainly have. She wrote them, and the one I’m going to read you today she wrote almost twenty years ago. She wrote it on May the 11th, 1993. She’s recently passed. Her name was Mary Lib Finlator, and she was a very, very dear friend of mine.
“O wondrous Worker of Miracles, praise be for the mystery that surrounds us and that through eons of creation has brought us to this moment together, alive, breathing, moving, sensing, hoping and praying.
“In this mysterious instance, at this luminous time, touched by nature’s pleading beauty, praise be for the friends whose steady hold keeps us buoyant on our journey, and for the messages of grace from strangers who pass our way.
“Praise be for the possibilities before us and for the surge of determination to accept difficulty, not as an excuse for passivity, but as a goad to creativity and the door to abundant life.
“And praise to Thee for all the clues of love, daring and outlandishly scattered about, which overturn habit and hate and horror. Give us courage to make some of the days ahead different, bright and beautiful with Your grace. Amen.”
(“Prayers for Women,” by Mary Lib Finlator, Chaplain 1992-1994 Woman’s Club of Raleigh)
May 20, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
“Our Father who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is now done in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
(The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13)
May 21, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Winkie Wilkins
Will you join me in prayer, please?
Heavenly Father, we come before You today to acknowledge that You are our good and great God. May we always do that with humility.
But those times do come when we are tempted to toss humility aside. We’re in this place because we were chosen by the people. We might reason: “The electorate has anointed us,” we sometimes boast to ourselves. It is during those times that we are most vulnerable, most fallible. May we understand that the true strength that lives in this Chamber or any other seat of human authority comes only from our good and great God, and that it flows to us only because that good and great God is also a generous God.
Lord, You know the heart of each of us. You know that we came into this place of human authority with the best of motives. Help us to understand that our motives will remain pure as long as we remain focused on You.
I ask Your blessings on each person who serves here and on each person who is served, and I ask it in the Holy Name of our Heavenly Father. Amen.
May 22, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Nathan Baskerville
Let us pray.
Dear Lord, we humbly come to You today asking for Your arms of protection to engulf us in Your love. We humbly ask for Your guidance, Lord, to show us the path of Your righteousness. Lord, we ask that You give us an extra measure of patience and forgiveness, qualities that may be missing from time to time. And Lord, instill in each of us a respect and understanding–a greater understanding of our awesome responsibilities, a better understanding of all issues and a greater understanding of our colleagues and respect for their positions.
Please, Lord, continue to bless us all in the Chamber, in this building, our State and Country. Extend Your blessings worldwide. Bless us all.
In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
May 23, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Bell
As I look in the gallery today and see veterans that have served our Country, and on Memorial Day on Monday, I felt this was very appropriate. So please bow with me.
Dear Lord, as we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we enjoy every day, we think of how they have followed in Your footsteps.
Please hold our servicemen and women and their families in Your strong arms. Cover them with Your sheltering grace and Your Presence as they stand in the gap to protect our freedoms. Thank You, Lord, for their service to our country, and in Your Name I pray. Amen.
May 24, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marilyn Avila
Let us pray.
Our Gracious and Mighty Heavenly Father, we come before You today as Your fallen creation asking for Your grace and mercy on each of us. Every life You’ve created, from the highest to the lowest in the eyes of man, has value and purpose through Your holy plan.
We ask Your blessings today for wisdom, love and compassion as we make decisions with Your guidance. We know we will receive these blessings from You because of the many blessings in our lives that You have given us: our families, our friends, the material blessings You have given.
Most especially we thank You for the United States of America–founded on a clear and strong dependence on Your divine Word. Help us to follow the example of our Founding Fathers–to make decisions without thought of financial gain or power–that our decisions will be first and foremost for the good of our citizens.
We ask Your blessings of comfort, protection and safety for our military forces wherever they may be around the world. Be with them and their families as we honor the sacrifices they willingly make for the continued freedom of our blessed Country.
All of this I pray in the Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
May 28, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Brian Brown
Good afternoon, Members. Everyone must have known I was giving the prayer today with the robust attendance. If we could bow our heads please.
God, as this Body begins the important work of the people that we have before us, please teach us to be generous, to serve You as You deserve, to give without counting the cost, to fight without fretting over our wounds, to labor without seeking rest, to achieve without looking for any reward other than knowing that we are doing Your holy will. Amen.
May 29, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rob Bryan
Please join me in prayer.
Heavenly Father, we thank You this day for Your kindness, Your mercy and Your goodness to us. We thank You for the opportunity to serve in this Body–what a privilege it is. Lord, help us recognize that and treat it with the respect and awe that it deserves. We thank You for the great people of this State that we get to serve.
We thank You for the great friendships that we develop here on both sides of the aisle. I ask, Lord, that You would give us charity and respect towards each other, that You would forgive the wrongs that we do, both personal and collective.
We thank You for this warmth outside, the beautiful sun, and ask that we’d be mindful of You in all that we do and say.
I pray all these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
May 30, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Catlin
Let us pray, please.
God, our Father, You guide everything in Your wisdom and Your love. Please accept the prayers we offer for our State and our Nation. In Your goodness, watch over those in authority so that people everywhere may enjoy freedom, security and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
June 3, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Debra Conrad
Please join me in a prayer sent to me by Pastor Lane Sapp from Calvary Moravian Church in Winston-Salem.
“Dear God, as those who bear the mantle of leadership for the people of the great State of North Carolina, we come before You, O Lord, with humble hearts. In the great work before us today in our debate and deliberation, guide us toward goodness and truth that we put the interests of the people we serve above party politics.
“As we struggle with important decisions, keep before our mind’s eye the faces and needs of the men and women who first sent us here to serve. As we discern the truth of conscience, give us a spirit of honesty and integrity that through our work those we serve may find richer, more abundant life. In our service, may we always apply the Golden Rule of the Gospel, doing no less for our constituents than we would do for ourselves.
“In the words of the great hymn writers: ‘Grant us wisdom; grant us courage for the living of these days.’
“In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
June 4, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dean Arp
If you’d like to join me in prayer, this is a prayer written by Pitts Baptist Church Sunday School Class for today.
“Most Gracious and Merciful God, we recognize Your authority and ownership over all creation and ask You, O Lord, to go before each one of us here today to give us wisdom and discernment to walk blameless in Your sight because You are El Roi, ‘the God Who sees.’
“Thank You for granting us blessings and liberties in this great State; burden us to not take these great gifts for granted. Allow us to recognize that true blessings, liberties and personal salvation come through Jesus Christ alone by our intimate relationship with Him.
“We pray for ourselves, the State policy-makers in both houses of the General Assembly of North Carolina, to have courage to stand firm in our personal faith and conviction and to not be persuaded by those with selfish interest, to seek Your wisdom in decision-making and remain humble with the powers entrusted to us. Help us to find ways to come together without compromising our faith and values. We each bring different ideas from all over this State, yet we seek to be unified.
“We pray for our state judges that they will seek wisdom from You for decisions and rulings and to exercise integrity while upholding the laws that they have been entrusted to protect.
“We pray for Governor McCrory and Lt. Governor Forest and their families. May they stay strong in their faith and always fix their eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. Give them guidance, wisdom and courage as they lead our State.
“May Your Church be strong, bearing, in You, much fruit. We know that without You we can do nothing. We pray that those who don’t know salvation in You may come to understand that You, Lord, are the only way to God the Father.
“We thank You for the privilege to be here and for all that You have given us. Watch over us. Guide us in our decisions on all the issues that come before us today. Make our hearts selfless, humble and open, and our minds focused. Remind us that our decisions affect the lives of many people.
“And now, Lord, we stand before You humbled and seeking Your face. Hear our prayer, Father; forgive us of our sins and heal this land.
“In the Name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.”
June 5, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Carla Cunningham
Please bow your heads and let us pray.
Lord, I pray for our President, our military and the citizens of North Carolina and all persons under the sound of my voice. I pray for peace all over this world. I pray for the sick, poor and those who are suffering in our society.
Lord, I pray we’d depend on Your knowledge, wisdom and the courage to do what is right. I pray we’d reject those who pressure us to violate our conscience. And then, Lord, I ask that we would be ready to sacrifice our personal ambitions and political careers for the state of our State. I implore Thee to restore dignity, honor, trustworthiness and righteousness to the office we hold. I pray we’d remember to be good examples in our conduct as fathers, mothers, sons and daughters of our State and Nation. Additionally, Lord, I ask You to remind us on a daily basis we are accountable to You for the decisions we make in this Chamber.
Lord, we bow our heads to receive truth. Let us open our ears to receive Your counsel. Let us open our hearts to receive Your eternal wisdom so we can see clearly and our decisions are flooded with light, truth and justice.
This is my prayer. Amen.
June 6, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Josh Dobson
Let us pray.
Our Heavenly Father, I want to first say thank You for this day that You have given us, for the blessings of life that we enjoy. I want to say thank You for this great Country and this great State that we live in.
Thank You for the opportunity to serve in this General Assembly. And finally, I want to say thank You for each member in this Chamber and for their willingness to serve and their willingness to leave their families to come to Raleigh and to represent their districts. Lord, we understand that it is a sacrifice, but we also understand that it’s a privilege and an honor to come here and represent our areas of the State.
Lord, today as we go about the business of the State of North Carolina, we ask for wisdom to make the right decisions. Help us to have a listening ear. And Lord, help us understand that no one person has a monopoly on what’s right. When we have disagreements–and yes, we will have our disagreements–help us to talk to one another and not over one another. May our debates be civil and respectful.
Again, Lord, we thank You for this opportunity to be here. And all these things we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
June 7, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marvin Lucas
My fellow Legislators, it’s Friday and it’s a day that we normally don’t meet, but it’s a day that the Lord has made. The American patriarch, Thomas Paine, once said that, “these are the times that try men’s souls. A summer soldier and a sunshine patriot may, in a crisis, shrink from the service of his country.” We will not shrink.
I refer you to excerpts from Ecclesiastes. “To everything there’s a season and a time to every purpose under the sun. A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to keep and a time to cast away; a time to keep silence and a time to speak.” But most of all a time to love and not hate.
Let us bow.
Kind Father, help us to love and not hate. Help us to cast away stones. Help us to love mercy and to walk humbly with You. Amen.
(Excerpts from “The American Crisis,” by Thomas Paine and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
June 10, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
If you would, please bow with me.
Lord God Almighty, You have given us many gracious gifts and we have the opportunity in this Country to enjoy most of them. I pray tonight that You would give us wisdom, patience, understanding, forgiveness and a desire to listen to one another in ways we don’t normally do. And may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, for You are our Rock and our Redeemer.
June 11, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ken Waddell
This prayer was offered by my pastor at my Baptist church in my hometown, the Reverend Danny Russell. Please pray with me.
“O God, we begin in a spirit of thankfulness to You for this day. We gather together with great responsibility. We look around this room at all the men and women who share this responsibility and find strength and encouragement. We can easily look at each other and remember our differences–our different convictions and our different approaches to life. Instead, today allow us to pause and remember that we each have been called here to serve the people of North Carolina, and it is in this shared calling that we find strength. As we debate what is best for the people of North Carolina, continue to remind us of our commonality in this service.
“We look at all that must be accomplished and we can easily be overwhelmed. We ask that You build upon each person’s strength to fulfill the task at hand. We pray for the empowerment of Your love so that we can be loving to each other. We ask for the space to listen and understand before we become so quick to talk and make a point.
“Today we acknowledge the decisions we make will affect so many people throughout the State. We ask for guidance in these decisions that they honor all people and improve the lives of the people in our State.
“We thank You for the gift of prayer and recognize that we each pray in different ways. We thank You for the diversity in this room. Through diversity it takes more time and effort to agree and make decisions, but it is in this diversity that we find strength to make the best decisions for the many types of people found throughout this State.
“We ask for Your blessing on our efforts so that our service and our very lives may be a blessing to the State of North Carolina. Amen.”
June 12, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Sarah Stevens
This is a prayer from Carol Lowe of Calvary Baptist Church in Mount Airy. Let us pray.
“Our Gracious and Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for the freedom we have of coming to You with our thanksgivings and petitions. As we begin our legislative session this day, we ask that You would remind us of Your many blessings, especially the ones we so often fail to notice.
“Thank You for our wonderful State with majestic mountains, rolling hills, and breath- taking landscapes. Thank You for our rural communities, large cities, suburban areas and still–productive family farms. Thank You for Your protection over us in both times of plenty and in times of want. We thank You, dear Father, for the many evidences of Your blessings on all of North Carolina.
“Now we pray that You would remind us of our need to seek Your guidance and approval as we discuss matters of importance today. Thank You for being personally interested in our day-to-day lives, as well as in our legislative proceedings. Guide us as we seek to make wise choices for all the citizens of North Carolina. Keep us focused on the tasks at hand, and help us not to be swayed by power or greed or special interests; instead, may we seek to know Your wisdom, may we evaluate options without bias and may we be sensitive to Your leadership.
“Thank You, Father, that You are able to direct our steps and to influence our decisions. Lead us in governing our great State in a way that pleases You and serves to benefit all of our citizens. May we set aside personal agendas and truly seek to serve the people of North Carolina to our best abilities. Bless us this day with Your presence; may we be willingly used by You to govern with love, lead with purity of heart and enact wise legislation for all our constituents.
“Once again we thank You for the freedom to seek Your guidance in these matters. May we ever be focused on what’s best for all citizens. Bless us, guide us and use us as strong, honest and caring leaders of North Carolina.
“We ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.”
June 13, 2013
The following prayer was offered
Representative Bob Steinburg
Good morning, fellow Representatives and ladies and gentlemen. Before I offer the prayer, I want to point out that I was given this book that is dated 1947–you can all see it right here–and these are prayers that were offered in the Senate of the General Assembly. They actually had booklets that each one of the Members had. And so I will be offering a prayer from this booklet this morning, and I ask you to all please join me. Let us pray.
“Our Heavenly Father, in this brief moment we look to Thee with love and praise and gratitude for another day in which to do Thy will. We bless Thee for the comfort and rest of the night and for Thy promise of a daily portion for a daily need. May we have strength for our toil, cleanness of mind for all decisions we must make and grace to overcome every temptation to do wrong.
“May our fellow men recognize something in our acts, speech and disposition that will make them know that we have had fellowship with Thee. There are
‘Causes that call for assistance Wrongs that need redress…’
“We also remember that:
‘Within the shadows standeth God, Keeping watch above His own.’
“So we pray for guidance and courage that will enable us to take our places and to do our full share to answer the call and meet the challenge as men and women who bear the name ‘Christian.’
“Thou hast said: ‘If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.’ Trusting in Thy never failing Word, we begin our work today with thanksgiving.
“In Our Master’s Name, amen.”
Reverend Edgar M. Hall
Chaplain of the North Carolina Senate, 1947
June 17, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Phil Shepard
Let’s pray.
Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we just want to come to You now. We want to thank You. We want to praise You for all Your blessings that You give us each and every day. We thank You for the safe travel that we all had to get back here today, and we thank You for the fact that we were born in this great Nation and this great country.
And we pray as we attempt to be leaders, Lord, that You would help us to be statesmen– not politicians. Lord, we pray for Your wisdom, Your guidance in all the decisions that we make, that it would bring honor and glory to You with the way that we live our lives and the difference that we make in people’s lives.
Lord, I pray a special prayer for our Nation, for our leaders, for our Congress, for our President and for each and every one of us here, and for our families and for our military men and women, wherever they may be, that You’ll protect them. Put a hedge of protection around each of us and bless us in a mighty way, and we thank You for all these things that You can only give us.
In Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.
June 18, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Susan Fisher
Good afternoon. As a parting gift before Representative Ross left this Body, she handed over the Book of Prayers that were put together by Mary Lib Finlator, and I have borrowed from that book today.
The Lord be with you.
(Response): And also with you.
Let us pray.
“O God of children and clowns, martyrs and bishops, saints and sinners and all of us other folk who don’t quite fit any of the above, thank You for this day with its chance to love and hope and laugh.
Thank You
for friends who make a claim upon our hearts,
for teachers who open our minds to new and wondrous thoughts,
for musicians who help us sing along the way,
for people who take stands rather than polls,
for leaders who do something rather than talk about everything,
for those who disturb our consciences and nudge us from our comfortable positions, for those who attempt beauty rather than curse ugliness,
“And thank you for all those brave soldiers of peace everywhere who risk their lives that others may have food and a safe resting place. Amen.”
(“Prayers for Women,” by Mary Lib Finlator; April 14, 1993)
June 19, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dean Arp
If you’d like to join me in prayer?
Our Heavenly Father, we pause today to come before You acknowledging You created the world. We acknowledge our shortcomings before You–that You’ve chosen broken vessels to carry out Your will and plan. We thank You for the privilege.
I thank You for my fellow Legislators, my colleagues. And I pray, Father, that You’d give us wisdom and guidance, understanding and love to rightly divine Your will. Grant us leadership, love, compassion and a spirit of leading Your great people.
In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
June 20, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jacqueline Schaffer
Would you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, Lord, we come before You today and we just thank You for this beautiful day and for this opportunity to serve You in this General Assembly. Lord, we just give You credit for who You are and for what You have called us to do here. And we thank You that You guide us and that You direct us and that You give us wisdom.
We ask that You would be in this place today, Lord, that You would give us guidance and wisdom as we seek to do Your will here. I pray that You would be with us as we make these decisions. I pray, Lord, that You would just guide our speech, our decisions and our interaction with each other.
Lord, we give You great glory and praise, and we thank You again for what You are doing through us in this General Assembly. We thank You for this opportunity.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.
June 24, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Mark Brody
I ask you to join me in offering up this prayer written by and spoken for the first time by Martin Luther to the Legislature of his time and being still appropriate today.
“Gracious and Sovereign Lord, we pray for Your servants in this Legislature of the State, that You might keep them faithful to the solemn office with which You have charged them. Strengthen and uphold them. Guide and direct them to fulfill Your purposes according to Your Word. Give them counsel and aid that they may preserve the integrity and the honor of our State, protect our neighbors’ best interests and uphold and preserve all life You have given to them. Grant them firmness to maintain and promote law and justice, and determination to strive for the good of our State and the betterment of its citizens.
“Give them wisdom in the hours of decision that they may speak and decide on matters in the spirit of unity and the bond of peace. Give them serenity in the face of crisis. Protect them from accidents, ill health and untimely death. Preserve them from unmerited criticism and distain. Guard and defend them that they may serve the security and wellbeing of the people You have given them to serve. Make them leaders of a people who will do Your righteous and holy will in our State and our Nation.
“We ask it in the Name of Your most Holy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
June 25, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Donny Lambeth
If you would, join me in our prayer today.
Our most Kind and Gracious Heavenly Father, we join together as one Body with varying styles, differences and opinions, but all with a singular interest in representing all of our citizens in North Carolina. We give thanks for our leaders, for those who lead our local cities and our counties, our state leaders and our national leaders. We certainly give thanks for the beauty of this day, to the blooming of the flowers and the trees, the things that sometimes we just take for granted, but we know that You’re there every day.
We know that there are still many difficult decisions. We know that our leaders are working hard to reconcile some of these decisions. We ask for Your continued guidance in all that we do and leading us to make the right decisions for those that we serve.
Now as we go into this session, we ask that You continue to bless us in all that we do. In Your Name we pray. Amen.
June 26, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Chris Malone
This prayer was delivered by Thomas Jefferson. It’s called, “A Prayer for the Nation,” March 4th, 1801.
“Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning and pure manners.
“Save us from violence, discord and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
“Endow with Thy Spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.
“In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust indeed to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
(President Thomas Jefferson, A Prayer for the Nation, March 4, 1801)
June 27, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Szoka
As we’ve all been taught, prayer doesn’t change God–it changes the ones who pray. Please join me in prayer.
O God, Creator and Preserver of all, we pray for people of every nation and in every kind of need. Make Your ways known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.
We pray to You for our government at the national, state and local levels. Give wisdom to those You have placed in authority. Guide these leaders in the administration of justice and the application of mercy.
We commend to Your fatherly goodness all who are anxious or distressed in mind, body or spirit. Comfort and relieve them in their need, give them patience in their sufferings and bring good out of their troubles.
Have compassion on our weakness and give us those things which, for our unworthiness, we dare not, and for our blindness, we cannot ask–all of which we ask in Your most Holy and Precious Name. Amen.
July 1, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Ray Starling
(General Counsel for North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis)
The evening prayer in the Lutheran Book of Worship reads:
“Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Make the inverse of that be true also, that the Members of this Body, elected here because You have seen fit for the sovereignty of this State and Nation to continue, would come in here with good courage, not knowing exactly where they are going, but only that Your hand is leading and supporting them.
We pray Your blessings on the soldiers and their families who sacrifice for the freedom of our citizenry. We pray Your blessings on those who have neither a legislator or a protester to argue their case. And finally, we pray for travel mercies for those who will take to the highways to celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of the freedoms that make America different.
In Your Name we pray. Amen.
July 4, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Andy Munn
(Policy Director for North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis)
Let us pray.
“Almighty God, You rule all the peoples of the earth. Inspire the minds of all men and women to whom You have committed the responsibility of government and leadership in
the nations of the world. Give to them the vision of truth and justice that, by their counsel, all nations and peoples may work together.
“Give to the people of our Country zeal for justice and strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with Your gracious will.
“God bless the United States of America and God bless North Carolina. “We pray all these things through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Robert McDowell, Senior Pastor
First United Methodist Church
Lancaster, Ohio
July 8, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Susan Martin
Lord, I come before You today with great praise and thanksgiving. You have poured out such great blessings upon this Body.
Lord, I first want to thank You for this great Nation and for this holiday of Independence Day that we can celebrate, and for the wisdom of our Founding Fathers who recognized that we are one Nation under God, and also recognized, Lord, as they came to this point in their session of developing the Constitution, that they needed a recess before the 4th of July, and that they needed to call on You.
And Lord, You have blessed us with a great State of North Carolina. And Your Word says that there is no authority except that which God has established. Lord, I thank You so much for all the people represented in this Body, and that You have called them to this leadership, and that You have given us an important job to do.
And it is at this point, Lord, that I come before You with humility and say that we need You, and that, unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain; and unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards watch in vain, according to Psalm 127.
Lord, don’t let us labor in vain. I pray that You would pour out Your Holy Spirit on us now and help us to do the work that You have called us to do. Lord, where there is ego, or where there is pride, or where there is just our humanity getting in the way of doing what is right and what is Your will for Your people, I pray, Lord, that You would help us to put it aside and to compromise for the good of the people. Lord, don’t let us compromise just because we’re weary and tired and we want to go home.
Help us to do good and to do Your will–above all things Lord, that is what we need. Wherever there are disagreements, Lord, I pray that You would give us understanding and good communication and fruitful collaboration. And Lord, Your Word says that many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
And Lord, I just ask these things in Jesus’ Name, and that You would bless our time together as we move forward. Amen.
July 9, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Harry Warren
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, God of all creation, we ask Your presence with us during our gathering this day. Inspired by the strong desire to live and worship as a free people, our Nation and our great State of North Carolina were established with the ideals that all could equally enjoy the blessings of freedom, prosperity and justice, and those inalienable rights granted to us by You, Lord. O God, we need Your help in this unending endeavor to secure those blessings for ourselves and our posterity.
Lord, grant us the wisdom to see the needs and the courage to meet them. Grant us Your sense of justice that we may govern fairly with prejudice to none. Grant us Your love of mankind that we may govern with true compassion and understanding.
And now, O God, we ask You to bless us and strengthen our individual resolve that we may collectively do Your will.
For these things we pray in Christ’s Holy Name. Amen.
July 10, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Dana Bumgardner
I’m going to do a little thing today that was done by Saint Peter about two millennia ago. He said:
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses.
“For he received honor and glory from the Father from the excellent glory saying, ‘This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.’
“And this voice, which came from Heaven, we heard when we were with him in the holy mount.
“For we have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
“knowing first this, that no word of Scripture is of any private interpretation, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
(2 Peter 1:16-21)
Now let’s pray.
Thank You, Father, for the Day Star in every heart here, and help us have a discerning spirit to know the right way to go and the right things to do.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.
July 11, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Edgar Starnes
May we pray.
Our Kind Heavenly Father, indeed we are grateful for this day that You’ve blessed us with. We’re certainly saddened to hear the loss of our good friend, Zeb Alley–what an influence he had on each and every one of us here in this General Assembly. We’re thankful for his life and for his years of service that he dedicated to this State.
Lord, we just pray that You would be with his family and comfort them as only You can during these difficult days. Father, we rejoice in the memory of Zeb. And Lord, let us be mindful that for those who put their trust in You, we have the hope of the resurrection and the gift of eternal life.
And Lord, as we go into this session, I pray that we will do our part to honor and respect the life that You have given to us. Thank you for all these blessings.
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
July 15, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marvin Lucas
Let us bow, please.
Most Gracious and Kind Father, we invoke Thy blessings upon this astute group. We ask You to give us the quality of mercy that was granted to the Merchant of Venice, because the quality of mercy is never strained. It groweth with each season of rain. Give us wisdom to accompany the mercy so that we will do Your will and please Your Servant as we attempt to do the business of this State.
Thank you, kind Father. Amen.
July 16, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Glazier
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and let us pray.
We often wait too long to do what must be done today in a world which gives us only one day at a time without any assurance of tomorrow. And while lamenting that our days are few, we procrastinate as though we had an endless supply of time.
We wait too long to show kindness. We wait too long to speak words of forgiveness which should be spoken, to set aside hatreds which should be banished, to express thanks, to give encouragement, to offer comfort and to share hope. We wait too long to be charitable. Too much of our giving is delayed until after the need is passed, and the joy of giving is then diminished.
We wait too long to be parents to our children, forgetting how brief is the time during which they are children–how swiftly life urges them on and away. And we wait too long to express our concern for our parents, siblings and friends.
We wait too long to read books and to listen to music and to see the art which is waiting to enlarge our spirits. And we wait too long to utter the prayers which are waiting to cross our lips, and perform the duties waiting to be discharged, and show the love that may no longer be needed tomorrow.
So we assemble here today in this Chamber to begin to do now all the things for which today was made, and we pray that we do it with grace and humility and competence and compassion.
And let us say, amen.
July 17, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Members, I was originally scheduled to give the prayer on July 2nd, which happened to be my second son David’s birthday, and he had served here once as an intern. So I told him that as part of my birthday present to him I was going to do the prayer in his honor and do a prayer from the Psalms of David, since he’s a David.
So it’s not July 2nd, but he was so pumped about the idea that I decided I’d go ahead and offer that prayer. So if you would, please bow with me as I go through a prayer from a Psalm of David.
“O LORD, You have searched us and You know us.
“You know when we sit and when we rise; You perceive our thoughts from afar. “You discern our going out and our lying down and are familiar with all our ways. “Before a word is on our tongues You know it completely, O LORD.
“You hem us in – behind and before, for You have laid Your hand upon us.
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for us, too lofty for us to attain…
“Where can we go from your Spirit? Where can we flee from your presence?
“If we go up to the heavens, You are there; if we make our beds in the depths, You are there.
“If we rise on the wings of the dawn, if we settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide us; Your right hand will hold us fast…
“For You created our inmost beings; You knit us together in our mother’s womb. “We praise You because we are fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, and we know that full well.
“Our frames were not hidden from You when we were made in the secret place. “When we were woven together in the depths of the earth,
“Your eyes saw our unformed bodies and all the days ordained for us were written in your book before one of them came to be…
“Search us, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts. “See if there is any offensive way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139, a Psalm of King David;
offered in honor of Representative Samuelson’s son, David.
July 18, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bert Jones
Members and guests, will you join me in prayer.
Our Father and our Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, we, Your people, humbly bow before Your throne, acknowledging You as the Creator and Sustainer of life, and that life being eternal. Let us come into Your presence with praise and thanksgiving, thankful indeed for Your grace and Your mercies that are new every morning.
We pray for wisdom and discernment that we may honor You in what we do and also the manner in which we do it. Help us to love good, to hate sin and to know Your Word that we would see the difference. We pray that righteousness would prevail, as Your Word tells us that righteousness exalts a nation. Lord help us, that we may be exalted and not condemned. And, as we extol the virtues of liberty, help us not be deceived by the sins of license.
We pray for understanding and courage to speak the truth, but also to do so in love, as love will cover a multitude of sins. Help us to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ offers forgiveness to us, according to Your Word.
And Father, as we offer this prayer, we are indeed thankful that You have ordained our steps, that we may freely assemble and offer prayer in this legislative Body, as our Nation
has sanctioned and practiced from its beginning. May it always be, according to Your will. Great is Thy Faithfulness; help us, Your people, to be faithful.
With each one here praying in their own way, I offer my prayer in the Name of my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
July 21, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Ray Starling
(General Counsel for North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis)
“Lord, You have been my dwelling place.
Lord, You have been my dwelling place.
A shelter, a refuge, a haven of grace.
Lord, You have been my dwelling place.
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
(This text for the song, “Lord, You Have Been My Dwelling Place,” was sung by Mr. Starling.)
July 22, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Roger Younts
Please bow your heads with me.
Lord, thank You for the love You give us each day. Please instill us with the humility that will empower us to do Your will. Help us embrace Your desire to bring out the best in ourselves. Enable us to spend our time here doing meaningful and faithful deeds. Help us to think clearly, knowing the importance of the decisions we make here and the impact these decisions will make on countless others. Give us the wisdom only You can provide to make this great State of North Carolina even greater.
In Your Name we pray. Amen.
July 23, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Carl Ford
Let’s pray.
Father God, I thank You for this day. I thank You for Your grace and mercy, Lord. I thank You for putting me here, Lord.
I pray that You’ll guide and direct me and my colleagues today in everything that we say, everything that we do and in our votes. We pray that You’ll bless the great State of North Carolina and all the folks that live here.
Father, we thank You so much for all that You’ve done for us and what You will do for us, Father. We thank You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
July 24, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Mark Brody
Let us pray.
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, You are our Fortress and Strength. You have given us this good land for our heritage and have called us to serve the people of this great State.
We humbly ask You to be our Guide during the legislative process. We thank You for the session which is about to conclude, and implore You that You would direct the discussions and the decisions that still lay before us. Help us to make decisions that abide by Your law, decisions that uphold the general welfare and peace for the people we serve.
You are the Author and Sustainer of all life, and we humbly implore You to make us a people who cherish all life in our midst. You have spoken to us by Your Word; we beg You to guide our lives as well so that we may be moved to live by the same laws we make, administer and judge for this State.
Be with us this week as we finish the business before us and safely return us to our homes. Bless this State, our leaders and the people we serve.
We ask this in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
July 25, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Susan Martin
Please join me in prayer.
Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for this opportunity to gather in Your Name, and I thank You for all of the people who are represented here and for our families and for the protection that You have provided for us. Continue to be with us.
And Lord, there is power in Your words, and I pray back to You Your Word from 2nd Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face, I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
And from Romans 15 – “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
And from Colossians 1:9 – “We have not stopped praying for you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will, and spiritual wisdom and understanding. We pray you will be strengthened with his glorious power so you will have the endurance and patience you need, especially today. May you be filled with joy.”
Amen.
September 3, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Justin P. Burr
Please join me in prayer.
Dear Lord, we thank You for this opportunity to gather here one more day, and we pray, as Members continue to arrive and as we go home today after finishing our business, that You will help us travel safely. We pray that You’ll be with us and guide us through the decisions that we have to make today, Lord, and we pray that You will be with all of our leaders as difficult decisions are made in this Country and in this State and in our communities–that You will be with us and guide us, and love and support us, Lord.
In Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.
September 4, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Harry Warren
Dear Lord, Heavenly Father: this morning, Lord, we humbly ask You, Maker of all things, to:
Make our hearts softer, Make our judgment clearer,
Make our motives purer,
Make our results above reproach and beneficial to all to whom
You have given us the honor and privilege to represent and to serve.
Lord, please bless our efforts that they may be beneficial to all to whom we serve. This we pray in Christ’s Holy Name, amen.
2014 Session
May 14, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bob Steinburg
Let us pray.
O God and Father of all mankind, hear our prayer. In the wisdom of men, the Church and State are separated, but we praise Thee that the State has associated the ministry of worship in its work, recognizing Thee as our Heavenly Father and seeking Thy strength and guidance. We lift the gratitude of our hearts to Thee that our prayers have been heard and our lives have been inspired and thrilled with a sense of Thy presence.
May Thy Spirit lead us beside the still waters of assurance and into the green pastures of the abundant life where we shall fear no evil because Thou art with us. We pray for decisions to come through a wisdom and skill. Make us all susceptible to helpful influences born in deep conviction in the spirit of fairness and away from those dreams that dazzle for a day. Arouse within us the ambition and public service to be led and directed by Thee.
It is in our Master’s Name that I pray. Amen.
May 15, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Mark Brody
Heavenly Father, Gracious Lord, there aren’t many of us here this morning, but Your Word says that whenever two or more are gathered in Your Name, You are there. So we here ask Your blessing, Your wisdom and Your peace upon this Assembly and the work before us, and allow us that will be assembled here later to share in Your presence and do the work placed upon this day to the glory of Your Holy Name.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.
May 19, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Tom Murry
Please bow with me in meditation over Psalm 100.
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.
“Know ye that the LORD, He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His Name.
“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.”
(Psalm 100:1-5)
Amen.
May 20, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Debra Conrad
Let us pray.
Almighty God, we give You thanks for the opportunity You have given each of us to serve the people of North Carolina. As we remember with humility the faces of those who sent us here to serve, may we seek their best interest. May our agenda be that of the people so that this State may thrive and flourish in both prosperity and peace. As we work together this day, teach us to listen, to work together and to compromise that our work may be productive and well-pleasing to You.
These things we ask in Your Name and for the benefit of Your people. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
May 21, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Nathan Ramsey
May you pray with me. This is an excerpt from Our State Magazine, “A Prayer for North Carolina,” by Dr. Billy Graham.
“Heavenly Father, we pause to worship You and give thanks for the mighty works of Your hands. We praise You for blessing our State and this country with a spiritual heritage that anchored a new nation made up of a people determined to seek and obey Your truth. Receive our thanks, Lord, as we remember those who came before us, from the first American Indian exploring an uncharted wilderness to the pilgrims who came to this land seeking freedom to worship the God of Heaven and Earth, and our founding fathers who built new life upon Your loving commandments and Holy Scriptures. Thank You, Lord, for gathering the families who came to live on the good land that we call North Carolina. Give
grace to us with magnificence of Your handiwork seen in the strength of the mighty ocean that brushes the Outer Banks and sandy shores, the loveliness of the Appalachian Mountains that pierce the clouds of Heaven, and the peaceful scenery of the rolling plains of the Piedmont. These are just glimpses of what You long to give mankind–Your strength, Your love, Your peace…
“Let us hold up Your truth so that You will lead us. Help us to be quiet in contemplation and bold to do Your will. For as You lead us in the way, we, in turn, can point others to Your truth that brings abundant life. You, Lord, are the Giver of all good things, and this is the reason for our hope of eternal life–salvation from our sin against You–the most high God in the Heavens. Though we do not deserve Your favor, You graciously grant it to all who sincerely call upon the Name in which I pray, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
(“My Prayer for North Carolina,” by Billy Graham, Our State Magazine)
May 22, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Glazier
Together we gather in this Chamber as friends and colleagues, delighted to honor our predecessors for serving the goals of meeting our State and the needs of our people. We are all strengthened because of their dedicated work; we are all enriched by the yield of their hearts and minds.
May God bless all who today serve North Carolina and this Nation with all that is good and enable them to continue to serve with joy and with vigor. May we carry forward the work our predecessors advanced; may we add our efforts and achievements to theirs. May we be reminded that the greatest reward of serving is not what we get for it but what we become because of it.
May each of us become more caring because of the compassion of our predecessors. May each of us become more loyal because of the courage they showed. May each of us become more dedicated because of the commitment they exhibited. And may all of us find fulfillment in the giving of ourselves to the end that we continue to give expression to the principles we cherish.
And let us all say–amen.
May 23, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Rebecca Matthews
Legislative Assistant to Representative Ruth Samuelson
Please bow your heads with me.
O Lord, our God, we remember Your promise that where two or three are gathered in Your Name, there You are in the midst of them. We claim that promise this morning and pray that each one of us may be aware of Your presence, for You know our needs. If You will help us, O Lord, then shall we be better than we are, wiser than we know and stronger than we dream.
In this prayer we bring unto You the Members of this Body, its officers and its servants, for Your blessing–those who feel the weight of responsibility and the need of divine guidance, those who often are sorely tempted and who need the support of Your grace. Bestow upon them the urge to do the right as You have given them to see the right, and make it clear unto us all for Jesus’ sake.
In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.
May 27, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Donny Lambeth
Please join me in prayer and thanksgiving.
Our most Kind and Gracious Heavenly Father, we come to You today gathered as one body to give praise and thanks for the blessings we share and to seek Your guidance in the work we were elected to do. Thank You for the leaders gathered here today who give of their time and talents in making decisions that ensure the wellbeing of all citizens of North Carolina. We also pray and give thanks for their families who support them in their service.
We pray for our national and local leaders and those who protect our freedoms–our military, our law enforcement and our firefighters. We ask a special blessings on their family, as well. We ask for Your comfort and direction to those in distress or in situations requiring help or support. We know that each of us has faced or been confronted by situations bigger than ourselves. We acknowledge that through You all things are possible.
As we enter into session today, we ask for Your continued guidance in making the right decisions on behalf of those whom we serve. May our actions be pleasing in Your sight.
In Your Name we pray. Amen.
May 28, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Verla Insko
In the summer months, the church I attend explores other faiths and various expressions of the Christian faith. The version of the Lord’s Prayer that I offer today is a translation by the Māori tribe in New Zealand. Let us pray.
“Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, loving God in Whom is Heaven–the hallowing of Your Names echo through the universe. The way of Your justice be followed by the peoples of the world. Your heavenly will be done by all created beings. Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For You reign in the glory of the power that is love now and forever. Amen.”
May 29, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Yvonne Holley
First of all I’d like to thank You, Lord. Thank You for allowing all of us to wake up today and to be here–a day that You have given us.
I want to pray for our families, people that are very close to each one of us individually. Pray for the soldiers that they’d continue to protect us during hard times. Pray for our constituents, as they are the reason that we are here, and pray for each other that we live healthy and are strong in this process.
I want to offer a special prayer for someone that I think highly of–one of Your gifts that you gave to us. No, not a minister. No, not a politician, but a woman–a normal woman, an everyday woman, everybody’s woman: Maya Angelou. Pray for her family and thank You, Lord, for bringing her into our lives to expound Your wisdom, virtues, ability and grace that she has given us all.
We are here because we’ve been elected by our districts, but we are here to represent all the people of North Carolina. Help us keep this in mind as we make these decisions. Open our ears, mind and hearts as we debate the issues to make sure that, first, we do no harm. We have been given the responsibility of being stewards of Your planet earth, something that we love and we cherish and we try to protect at all cost. As we make decisions and decisions that will be made today, dear Lord, please make sure that we do it with a pure heart and with You in mind. Dear Lord, let all our decisions be clean and made with civility and love and in Your Spirit.
In Jesus we pray, amen.
June 2, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Chris Malone
Dear Lord, on this day look down upon us with favor. We ask that You imbue us with temperance, illuminate our mind and soul with wisdom, fill our hearts with empathy and
care for our fellow man, remind us our duty and encourage us in tough times. May dignity, justice and forbearance be our standard. May Your light guide us in leadership and diplomacy. May our fealty to those goals bring us optimism and hope to our State. Let those virtues and values bring prosperity and brotherhood to its people.
In His Name, amen.
June 3, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Edgar Starnes
May we pray.
Our Kind and Gracious Heavenly Father, indeed we are grateful for this day that You’ve blessed us with. We’re thankful for the opportunities of service. I pray, Father, that we will have the mind of Christ as we seek to serve our fellow man and those that we have been elected to serve. Lord, we just are thankful for the gift of life that You’ve given to each of us, and I just pray that we will work diligently to serve You every day as we have an opportunity.
In Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.
June 4, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Tricia Cotham
Let us pray.
Almighty God, You are present in all things. In moments of darkness, You are present; in moments of glory, You are present. The moments of joy that we experience are because You are with us. God, we stand before You today in Your presence to praise You and to say thank you. Sometimes in the chaos at the General Assembly we may forget that You are here. Forgive us, Lord. Life in the Legislature can overwhelm us. Help us to remember that Your grace is there to pick us up, for Your presence, Your mercy and Your love is everlasting. Father, remind us of Your awesome majesty that surrounds us.
In closing, Father God, we thank You for the strength, the mercy, and the love You bestow upon us. Help us to listen to Your voice, to feel Your presence, to trust Your Word and to serve Your people.
In Your Name we pray. Amen.
June 5, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Brian Brown
Members, although I open today’s prayer at session today, I pray for you every day and I pray that we find peace and direction and that we all act and lead in accordance with God’s Word. Let us all remember that a House divided against itself cannot stand, so therefore let us be united in righteousness for the sake of this great State. Let us pray.
O God, from Whom all powers come, by Whose divine will all must abide–we thank You for our liberties and our freedoms, for our opportunities and for our privileges. We beg of You to bless, assist and enlighten our leaders in this great State. May we prove worthy of the confidence placed in us by our fellow citizens. May we be just and upright in our thinking, honest in our actions and ever be guided by a true conscience in the legislation we propose and vote upon. Forgive us for our mistakes and selfish tendencies and prepare us for our good deeds, for an eternal union with You.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
June 9, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Robert Brawley
Let us bow our heads.
Dear Lord, we come to You today with thankful hearts. We’re thankful to be Americans. We’re thankful to live in North Carolina, the communities we live in. We’re thankful for friends and loved ones. And Lord, we would ask that You be with the family of Senator Blake at this time of their loss.
Lord, You’ve blessed us in so many ways. We do have some requests. You know what our talents and abilities are; we ask You to go with us and help us use our talents and abilities to better serve You and North Carolina. You know what our needs and our wants are; we ask You’d go with us and help us to know the difference. We ask that You’d be with us in all that we do and say.
In Thy Name we pray. Amen.
June 10, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ted Davis
Would everyone please bow their heads and pray with me?
Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing us to live in a country where we have the freedom to choose those individuals who will represent us in government, and those
elected officials have the freedom to make the very important decisions that affect our daily lives. As we carry on the duties of our office, give each one of us the courage to do the right thing and not base our decisions on where the political wind might be blowing at that particular moment. Help us to put our political differences aside, and give us the strength and the patience to work together–Democrats and Republicans–for the benefit of our constituents and the preservation of our great State as a wonderful place to live and raise our families.
I humbly ask these things, Lord, in the Holy Name of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ.
June 11, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Thank you all. I had actually a little call out today for two members who are not here. As you all know, Representative Horn is very good about making sure we know everything about Winston Churchill, and Representative Stam is really good about memorizing all the legal documents that preceded the year six or seven hundred.
But when I came to the Legislature, the way I was prepared was to memorize passages of Scripture. And so this year as I started the short session, there were a couple passages that came to mind and I wanted to share those real quickly with you, and then actually just bless us in the same prayer that Aaron blessed the people of Israel when they were about to conquer the Promised Land.
But the passages that I had, the first one was out of Jeremiah 29, and I hope this will find you comfort: “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
And now as we are in the middle of session and things are tired, there was a passage out of Matthew: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”– something we always like about this time. (Matthew 11:28)
And then in John 14 it says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives, so do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
So I’ll close with the prayer of Aaron, if you’ll bow with me.
“The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make His face shine upon us and be gracious to us. The Lord turn His face to us and give us peace.” (Adapted from Numbers 6:24-26)
Amen.
June 12, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Becky Carney
Good morning. I’m choosing to read this morning a prayer from ten years ago that was offered in the House. Back then we had House Chaplains: the Reverend Jim Lambeth and Reverend James Harry, and some visiting ministers. I’m praying today a prayer from Reverend Chad Neil from Fuquay-Varina Presbyterian Church. Let us pray.
“Gracious and Loving God, I pray that You would be with these gathered here today. Bless them and guide them. Give them wisdom to see beyond the rhetoric to see the truth of the issues at hand and the impact it will have on the lives of the people they serve. Give them the courage to make difficult decisions. Let Your hand be upon them as they do their work. Speak to them and through them. O God, on this day may faithfulness be chosen over politics, may truth be chosen over patience, may charity be chosen over all else. O God, be present in this time and in this place. Amen.”
June 13, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marilyn Avila
Let us pray.
Father God, Creator of all earth, we come to You today to finish a job of developing the budget for the State of North Carolina. We now have before us three ideas, three presentations and the thoughts of literally hundreds of people of how to deal with the State of North Carolina’s money. We ask now as we go into conference that You will be with us each step of the way. Place before us a single goal and help us reach it through compromise and discussion. Guide and direct the facts and figures that we get, that they’re honest and true so that we can base our decisions on solid foundations.
Be with each Member here as they struggle–and each of us will–as we consider ideas that are uncomfortable, possibilities that may not take place. Help us to deal with the disappointment that what we want might not come to pass, but help us all to be satisfied with what You’ve given us with Your guidance, with Your wisdom, Your grace and Your mercy. Be with these people as we continue on in the weeks ahead to complete our job.
Be with our families as they stood behind us solidly with hours that we haven’t been able to spend with them. Bless them and help them to know that they are serving our State just as definitely as the ones elected here.
We ask now that You watch over all of our military. They’ve made it possible for us to come together, discuss issues in a free and open manner and to be able to reach decisions that reflect the best that’s in us through Your help and guidance.
We ask now blessings on our constituents, that we have made decisions that will make their lives better. We ask their contribution in letting us know what they need and
understand that everything can’t happen immediately, and it sometimes can’t happen the way they would like it.
But guide and direct us and keep us safe. And all this I ask in my Savior’s Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
June 17, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ken Goodman
O God, Creator of all that exists, we ask Your blessing on this Body as we gather together here today intent on doing good work. We seek to represent fairly and well those who have given us this task. May our efforts have insight, guided by understanding and wisdom. We seek to serve with respect for all. May our personal faiths give us strength to act honestly and well in all matters before us.
This we humbly pray. Amen.
June 18, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Pittman
Let us pray.
Almighty God, our Father, we acknowledge You today as the God of Abraham and of Isaac and Jacob, the God of Sarah and Rachel and Leah, and so many more, Lord, who are mentioned in the genealogy, the ancestry of our Lord Jesus by Matthew and Luke. And Lord, as we look at those lists, we realize that You are the God of people who just are not perfect, but You are a God who calls us by Your love and grace toward Your perfection. And Lord, we just pray that You’d help us today to come a little closer to it.
Lord, we who gather in this place to consider the business and the needs of the people of this State are called out to by so many different voices. And often, Lord, we’re sympathetic to two or more sides of an issue, and it’s difficult sometimes, Lord, for us to understand and be sure of which side is the better to take. Help us in the midst of all the noise and all the hustle and bustle of this place and all the many things going on in the world that distract and concern us–in the midst of all that, help us to hear Your still, small voice and do what pleases You first of all. And in doing so, Lord, may we best serve those who have placed us here.
Use us this day for Your glory and help us to be a blessing to one another, even in spite of our differences. For we pray it in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
June 19, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Amanda Davis
(Legislative Assistant to Representative Tricia Cotham)
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we welcome Your presence in this place. We thank You, God, for making all people in Your image. We ask, God, in faith and humility that You would teach us to live like You. Lord, give us Your feet to go where You would lead us. Give us Your hands to reach those who need Your touch; Your eyes, Father, to see the invisible among us. Would You give us Your heart, God, that we might love one another like You love us with unimaginable patience and unfailing mercy.
Bless this Body, Father, full of Your sons and daughters, and breathe Your Spirit into their hearts, transforming them more into Your likeness day by day. Fill them with Your wisdom and grant them Your grace.
We ask all these things in the Name of Your Precious Son Jesus. Amen.
June 23, 2013
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Carl Ford
Let’s pray.
Father God, I thank You for this day and this time together. I pray for my enemies right now–I pray that You’ll bless them in the Name of Jesus. I pray that You’ll bless our families as we serve here. Bless the staff here, Lord, all those that keep us safe. We thank You so much for what You do. Guide and direct us in our thoughts, words and deeds tonight.
Father, we praise You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
June 24, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Bell
Please join with me in prayer.
Dear God, thank You for another beautiful day on earth, and thank You for the men and women that serve in this Chamber. May You look upon this Assembly of state leaders and fill us with Your wisdom. May we always act in accordance of Your will, and our decisions be for peace and the wellbeing of this great State.
It’s in Your Name that I pray. Amen.
June 25, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ken Waddell
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This prayer that I offer before the House today was written by my Pastor, Reverend Danny Russell from Chadbourn Baptist Church. If you so desire, please pray with me.
“O God, we begin in a spirit of celebration for this past Saturday, the first official day of summer. We celebrate with the people of the mountains jumping in swimming holes amidst such beauty. We celebrate with the people of the Piedmont splashing around in each other’s pools. We celebrate with the people of the coast soaking up the sun on our many beaches. We celebrate with the people of our State swimming and fishing in the rivers and lakes everywhere in-between. Today, we celebrate the people of North Carolina because we gather to remember them and represent them in the work of this House. We look to the sky and welcome the summer rain into our communities to nourish our fields and crops this farming season.
We also pause this morning and ask You to nourish our very souls, because we look around this room at these men and women and see a shared calling. Remind us that we have more in common as North Carolinians, even though we easily focus on our differences. Help us celebrate our differences knowing this is where we gather our unique perspectives that enable us to effectively do the work before us. Yet, we also ask that these differences do not become hindrances in our shared work of finding solutions to the problems and needs of our State.
Before we begin this session and fall into the political arena of North Carolina, we remember who we are: sons and daughters of God. We pray for each other as husbands and wives, as mothers and fathers, as friends and neighbors. We pray for each person in this room and their families. We are all faced with difficulties and can easily find ourselves in moments of crisis. May You help each of us find Your comforting presence in our times of need. May You also provide us opportunities to become Your comforting presence in each other’s lives.
Most of all, may You constantly remind us that we are not alone because we are truly Your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of humanity. As Your children, we ask now for Your blessing on our efforts, so that our service and our very lives may be a blessing to the State of North Carolina. Amen.”
June 26, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Larry Pittman
Please join me in a prayerful attitude.
Almighty God, our Father, there is no prayer that I could ever offer that would equal the prayer which Your Son gave to us, which I now return to You:
(singing)
“Our Father, Which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
(The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13)
June 30, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rena Turner
Let us pray together.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth. Lord, we come to You tonight thanking You that Your Spirit and Your presence is with us. We ask that, because of Your presence with us, we thank You that we can call on Your Name for peace, for help, for power. And Lord, we ask that You visit us, that You inhabit us with these gifts tonight, that the work that’s done in this Chamber might be for Your glory.
For it’s in Your Name that we pray. Amen.
July 1, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Jacqueline Schaffer
Will you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, Lord, we come before You today and we are so grateful for this opportunity to be here as this Body, and we just want to thank You for that opportunity, Lord. We want to thank You for giving us the chance to work on behalf of the citizens of North Carolina.
And Lord, I pray that You would be with us today, and especially for the rest of this week as we make these hard decisions, Lord, these decisions that will have such an impact on people’s lives. And Lord, we just invite Your presence into this room. I just pray that You would just guide every decision that we make, every word that we speak, Lord. And I pray that You would just give us the courage and the ability and the wisdom to do what is right, Lord.
And Lord, as we interact with each other–our fellow Members and the people that come into our offices–I pray that You would just season our speech with grace and wisdom, and I pray that You would just help us as we carry out this very important work.
Lord, I pray that You would be with our leaders. I pray that You would bless them, give them favor, give them strength, Lord, and wisdom as they, too, carry out these very important actions, Lord.
And Lord, be with us. We bless Your Name. And in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
July 2, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Mark Brody
Almighty God and Heavenly Father, You have given us this good land for our heritage and have called upon us to serve the people of this great State. We humbly implore You to be our guide and our strength. We thank You for this session and ask You to watch over, guide and direct the discussions and decisions that lay before us. Help us to make decisions that abide by Your law, decisions that uphold the general welfare and peace for the people we serve.
You are the Author and Sustainer of all life, and we humbly pray that You make us a people who promote all life in our midst. As You have spoken to us in Your Word, we beg of You to guide our lives, as well, so that we may be moved to live by the laws we make, administer and judge for this State. Be with us this week as we address the business set before us, the deliberations we have and the compromises we make. Bless our State, our great Nation, as we continue to do the work this day for the people we are here to serve.
We ask this in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
July 3, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Members, I took my own advice from Tuesday and looked around to see if there was another prayer that someone had offered on a July 3rd that I thought would honor us and found one from Congressional Records from 1974 (a number of us were alive in 1974) from the Chaplain Reverend Edward Latch. And he offeredThe following prayer. He began with a passage of Scripture from Psalm 33, verse 12. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” If you would, please pray with me.
“Eternal God, stir Thou our minds and stimulate our hearts with a high sense of patriotism as we approach the 4th of July. May all that this day symbolizes renew our faith in freedom, our devotion to democracy, and redouble our efforts to keep a government of the people, by the people and for the people truly alive in our world. Grant that we may highly resolve on this great day to dedicate ourselves anew to the task of ushering in an era when goodwill shall live in the hearts of a free people, justice shall be the light to guide their feet and peace shall be the goal of humankind: to the glory of Thy Holy Name and the good of our Nation and of all mankind. Amen.”
(U.S. House of Representatives; Rev. Edward G. Latch, D.D.; July 3, 1974)
July 7, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Joe Nolan
(Deputy Chief of Staff for House Speaker Thom Tillis)
Since we weren’t here on Friday, I’d like to read the 4th of July Prayer from the US Senate in 1969.
“We thank Thee, O God, that the freedom we celebrate in coming days is not an attainment, but an obtainment that it is Thy precious gift to man as part of his createdness. We thank Thee for the daring of our forefathers in reclaiming their ‘ancient rights.’ We thank Thee, too, for the heroes’ valor and patriots’ devotion, the prophets’ vision, and for all the blood and sweat and toil by which our freedom was purchased. As we commemorate our national independence, accept again the declaration of our everlasting dependence upon Thee. In all our joy and thanksgiving enable us to remain a nation ‘under God,’ and give us grace and goodness to minister to mankind in His Name. Amen.”
(U.S. Senate; Rev. Edward L.R. Elson, D.D.; July 2, 1969)
July 8, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Andy Munn
(Policy Advisor for House Speaker Thom Tillis)
Bow your heads, please.
Father, we pray for courage as we begin this day, for we understand there is work to be done, burdens to be carried, feelings to be shared and joys to be celebrated. Grant us the courage to be silent that we may hear Thy voice, to persevere that we may share Thy victory, and to remember lest we forget the way by which Thou has led us. And when the day is done, O Lord, may we have the courage to see Thy guiding hand in the friendships that have been made, in the hurts that have been healed and in the strength that has been given.
In Your Son’s Name we pray. Amen.
July 9, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Sarah Riser
(Staff for House Speaker Thom Tillis)
God, grant us the courage to change the things we can change, the serenity to accept those we cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference. But God, grant us the courage not to give up on what we think is right, even though we think it is hopeless. Amen.
July 10, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Marilyn Avila
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, Creator and Sustainer of Life, we come before You today humbled by Your love and mercy for us. Each day You grant us countless blessings that we take for granted. Help us to, at least one time in our busy day, stop to honor and thank You.
Today we come before Your presence asking for guidance as we complete this session. Our patience is growing thin and our tempers are growing short. In the midst of all the frustration, we ask that You refresh us. Give us a calm spirit and a willing heart with discernment and wisdom in making decisions that affect the lives of so many people in North Carolina.
As the Great Physician, we ask for Your healing hand to be placed on members of our Assembly who are facing serious health conditions. Grant them Your comfort and strength during these trying times. We step forward with boldness to ask that miracles be worked in their bodies.
Today, as every day, we raise up our military men and women who willingly protect the freedoms that surround us all. Place a hedge of protection around each one as they serve around the world and at home. Be with their families who also sacrifice so much. Relieve their anxieties and give them comfort when they’re separated from their loved ones.
This I pray in the Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
July 14, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Speaker Pro Tempore Paul Stam
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Lord, we love You and trust You and honor Your Name and ask that everything we do will be an honor and not a condemnation. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
July 15, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Ray Starling
(General Counsel for North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis)
Let’s pray, y’all. This is a prayer that was actually spoken by Reverend Jacob Duché at the first session of the Continental Congress on September 7th, 1774. Join your hearts with mine in prayer.
“Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable Assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions here represented, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the Name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior. Amen.”
First Prayer of the Continental Congress, 1774
Reverend Jacob Duché
July 16, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Assistant House Sergeant at Arms Bill Morris
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You so much for this wonderful day You’ve given us today. We thank You for the Members here that seek to serve You and the citizens of North Carolina. Lord, I pray that You will quiet their minds and humble their hearts as they go about Your work, Lord, here in this place. Lord, we also lift up their families. Lord, we thank You for the sacrifice that they make having their loved ones here serving all of us. Be with them. Meet all their needs, O Lord.
And Lord, I pray that You would just pour out an extra measure of Your grace to all of our hearts. Let us be ever mindful of Your presence each and every day. Now, Lord, I ask that You go with us, guide us and direct us in all that we do.
I pray all these things in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
July 17, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative John Torbett
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, honorable Members. The prayer this morning is attributed to Thomas Jefferson. It was delivered in Washington, D.C. on March 4th, 1801. It has been titled, “A Prayer for the Nation.” Will you pray with me?
“Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning and pure manners.
“Save us from violence, discord and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
“Endow with Thy Spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.
“In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust indeed to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
(President Thomas Jefferson; A Prayer for the Nation; March 4, 1801)
July 21, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Garland Pierce
Would you bow your heads with me, please?
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within bless His Holy Name. Lord, we thank You for yet another day that You have blessed us to see. We thank You for grace and mercy. We thank You for all the health and strength that You have given us in this day.
Lord, we are mindful of the bereaved families in our Chamber, both Senate and House, that lost loved ones over the weekend. We do pray, O God, that You would continue to strengthen them in their time of bereavement. Lord, we are also mindful of those souls who
have lost their lives on Malaysia Flight 17. We know what strain that must bring upon their families and the world in which we live.
But we do know that You are the Peace that passes all human understanding. So we pray, O God, for our Nation and the world and all that’s going on, that You will continue to be the Prince of Peace that we need each and every day personally, individually, as a State, as a Nation and a world. Bless us, O God, and we shall be blessed.
For it’s in Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.
July 22, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Lynn Taylor
(Legislative Assistant for Representative William Brawley)
Thank you for this opportunity to open session in prayer on your behalf. Let us pray.
Dear Lord, thank You for the privilege to bring this Body before Your throne of mercy and grace.I lift up these men and women who serve this great State that we call home. Thank You for their desire and willingness to serve. I ask that You give them direction, guidance and strength to make the right decisions that lie before them. I pray that You grant this Body wisdom and knowledge for the decisions they make on our behalf. I ask for knowledge to do the right thing, to make the right decisions and the strength of conviction and courage to carry them out.
I ask that You give them a hunger and a thirst for righteousness, for Your Word tells us that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. I ask that You grant repentance when we error, that we might walk in Your blessing and favor.
Blessed are You, O Lord God, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed, everything that is in the heavens and the earth. Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as Head over all. Both riches and honor come from You and You rule over all. And in Your hand is power and might, and it lies in Your hand to make great and strength everyone.
Now, therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious Name. Amen.
July 23, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Assistant House Sergeant at Arms Bill Morris
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for this beautiful day You’ve given us. Lord, I pray that You will give us a time today and every day, Lord, to just stop and look at the mighty work of Your hand in all creation. Lord, we’re so thankful that You are our Creator, You are our Sustainer. And Lord, I pray that You will allow us to just stand in reverential awe of who You are.
Lord, I pray that, as meetings continue here in this place, Lord, that You will give the Members a time to reflect on who You are in all their work. Lord, I pray that when they find themselves with difficult decisions to make, Lord, I pray that they will stop and seek Your guidance and Your help. Lord, we need You in all things, Lord.
And Lord, I just pray that You’ll be with these members each and every day. Lord, I pray that You’ll be with their families at home. Lord, we thank You for these families and what they sacrifice for these members to be here.
Lord, I pray that Your will be done here on earth as it is in Heaven. Lord, we pray all these things in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
July 24, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Tom Murry
Please mediate and pray with me over Proverbs Chapter 3, verses 13 through 26.
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. “For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof as fine gold.
“She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
“Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
“She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
“The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
“By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: “So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
“Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
“For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”
Amen.
(Proverbs 3:13-26)
July 25, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Becky Carney:
Good morning. Join me as I share a prayer with you today, an Eastern Orthodox prayer. Let us pray.
“O Lord, grant us to greet the coming day in peace. Help us in all things to rely upon Thy holy will. In every hour of the day reveal Thy will to us. Bless our dealings with all who surround us. Teach us to treat all that comes to us throughout the day with peace of soul, and with the firm conviction that Thy will governs all. In our deeds and words, guide our thoughts and feelings. In unforseen events, let us not forget that all are sent by Thee. Teach us to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give us strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct our will, teach us to pray–pray Thou, Thyself, in us. Amen.”
(A prayer for the beginning of the day, by St. Philaret of Moscow)
July 29, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Max Isaacson
(Staff for Representative Tim Moore)
Members, visitors and staff, if you would, please bow your heads with me in prayer.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth. We come before You this morning and thank You for this beautiful day. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve You and the people of North Carolina. Grant us the wisdom, patience and discernment to do Your will.
We are ever thankful for the abundance of blessing You have bestowed upon us. Let us take the time during our busy days to slow down and realize the beauty surrounding us. Please watch over us and guide us in the waning days of this legislative session.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.
July 30, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If you would, please bow your heads with me.
Lord, I rejoice that You have given us the honor and privilege of serving here today. I also rejoice that You have promised us wisdom, peace and rest when we seek Your glory and Your Name. So now may we incline our hearts to seek, not after our own interests, but after You and Your glory. Then You will fill us with wisdom, peace and the rest that we all crave.
And respecting all faiths, I ask these things in the Name of Your Precious and Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
July 31, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Carl Ford
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let’s pray.
Father God, thank You for this day and this time together. Pray that You’ll guide and direct us today as we get ready to wind down the session. Protect those troops that are protecting us around the world. We pray for our friends in Israel and give them guidance as to what’s going on there. Guide and direct us today. Let us do all for Your glory, Father.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.
August 1, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Rick Glazier
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and after last night we can all use some prayer.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, to end war, for we know that You have made the world in such a way that we must find the path to peace within ourselves and with our neighbors and colleagues.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, to end starvation, for You have already given us the resources with which to feed the entire world if we would only use them wisely.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, to root out our prejudice, for You have already given us eyes with which to see the good in all people if we would only use them rightly.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, that You would end despair, for You have already given us the power to clear away poverty and to provide hope if we would only use our power justly.
“We cannot only pray to You, God, to end disease, for You’ve given us great minds with which to search out cures and healings if we would only use them constructively.
“Therefore today we pray to You instead for strength and determination and courage and will to do instead of only to pray, to become instead of merely to wish, to act instead of merely to speak, for Your sake and ours speedily and soon for our State, our Nation and world to be made safe. And may You bless all of our lives. Amen.”
(Adaption of “Prayer Alone is Not Enough,” by Rabbi Jack Reimer)
August 2, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bob Steinburg
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It’s interesting that I was here to deliver the prayer on the opening day of session, and here I am again on the closing day of session. So this is quite an honor, indeed. Members of the House and folks in the gallery, let’s bow our heads in prayer, if we would.
God of indefinite love and wisdom and power before Whom we shall one day appear to give an account for the deeds done in our lifetime, mercifully forgive our sins and grant unto us the peace that passes all human understanding. As Thou dost know, not only collectively but individually, our motives, desires and weaknesses, we wait the illumination of our minds and the purification of our hearts. Then shall we go to our tasks rejoicing that we are laborers together with Thee.
Too often we live in a little world circumscribed by material things and selfish interests. Wilt Thou give us greater perspective, the vision of a world in which all life and service are as unto God and not unto men. When this day comes to a close–in fact, when this session comes to a close–may we be able to say, “Father, I have finished the work Thou gavest me to do.”
For Thy Name’s sake, amen.
August 6, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Judy Lowe
(Legislative Assistant for Representative Ted Davis)
Please bow your heads and we’ll go to the Lord in prayer.
Our Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of being able to come to You in prayer to open today’s session. Thank You, too, for those who are here today, and may You bless all of the men and women who have chosen to be part of this important place, giving of their time and talents to faithfully serve their constituents.
Give them a caring heart, Father, and an open mind to deal wisely in a place fraught with many challenges. Be with them as they strive to be all-inclusive in their decision- making while understanding and working through their differences so, as one Body, they serve every person in this great State. Each member contributes as they are inclined and gifted, often in unseen ways, and each one is singularly and collectively important to this significant institution. They are truly valued by us and by You.
As this two-year journey draws to a close, be with those who will be leaving; they have served us well. And prepare those who will be joining us this year for their season of service.
I ask all of this in the Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
August 10, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Michael Wray
Let us pray.
Dear Lord, we give thanks for this day and the many blessings You have bestowed upon us. We ask for Your guidance for the leaders of our State and our Country. We pray, God, that You will direct them to the right decisions for all citizens they represent. We ask that You heal those who are sick and suffering, and give comfort and strength to those who have lost loved ones. We ask that You be with those less fortunate than ourselves. We pray, God, that You be with each of us this day and every day and help us to make the right decisions for our lives. Amen.
August 14, 2014
The following prayer was offered by Representative Ted Davis:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will you please bow your head and pray with me.
Heavenly Father, as this session of the General Assembly comes to an end, there are still many important issues that need to be addressed before we conclude. Help us to put our political and personal differences aside and give us the strength, wisdom and patience to work together–House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans–to successfully resolve those remaining issues for the benefit of those we represent so we can preserve our great State as a wonderful place to live and raise our family.
I humbly ask for Your guidance, Lord, in the Holy Name of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
August 15, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Anne Murtha
(Legislative Assistant for Speaker Pro Tempore Paul Stam)
Peace be with you.
Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Amen.
August 18, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Ray Starling
(General Counsel for North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis)
Ladies and gentlemen, this prayer is used at our church with our young kids in a thing we call “Wiggler Worship.” And since this is sometimes like Wiggler Worship, I would ask you to join your hearts with mine.
Dear Lord, please help me this week, to do all the good I can, in all the places I can, at all the times I can, to all the people I can! We love you. Amen.
August 19, 2014
The following prayer was offered by
Representative Bert Jones
Will you pray with me?
Our Father and our God, today is another day that You have made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. You know far better than we the challenges that we face. We pray for Your divine guidance that our actions and our words would be honoring to You.
Help us to follow the Golden Rule to treat others as we would want them to treat us. Help us to treat one another with love and respect. The Bible says that government officials are ministers of God; help us be true to that high calling. And let us be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ Jesus offers forgiveness to each of us.
As each may choose to pray in their own way, I offer my prayer in the Name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
August 20, 2014
The following prayer was offered by Representative Harry Warren:
Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father, once again we gather here to do the work of the people. Once again we ask for Your guidance. Help each one of us, Lord, to see beyond our individual ambitions. Help each of us focus on the needs of the people who entrust us to work on their behalf. Help us remember, Father, what they expect of us. Help us to remain true to the simple values and the core principles that we profess to believe in. Help us, Father, most of all, to remember that we have been created in Your image and, as such, we should strive to reflect You in all of our actions. Help us now, Father, as we begin what hopefully are our last hours of work here, that our hearts and our ears might be open to receive Your inspiration.
We each make this request of You, Father, in our own individual ways, as we thank You for Your patience with us. Amen.
Special thanks to the Office of former Speaker Pro-Tem Paul Stam: Christin Danchi, Former Legislative & Research Assistant; Dylan Finch, Intern; Anne Murtha, Legislative Assistant; Amy O’Neal, Former Research Assistant; and Amanda Vuke, Former Legislative Assistant for Representative Bill Cook for their hard work compiling this collection. To download the complete collection in PDF form, complete with an index, click here.