Presidential Inauguration Prayers

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="005d2a23.png"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div>      |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE NATIONAL PRAYER EMBASSY VICTORY WOR">home</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE NATIONAL PRAYER EMBASSY VICTORY WOR">THE NATIONAL PRAYER EMBASSY & VICTORY WORLD OUTREACH CHURCH IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. 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LUIS LEON,</U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>RECTOR,</U></B></I> <I><B><U>ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, </U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>WASHINGTON, D.C.:</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Most gracious and eternal God, We gather today as a </B></div> <div> <B>grateful people to enjoy the many blessings you have </B></div> <div> <B>bestowed on this nation. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"We are grateful for your vision </B></div> <div> <B>which inspired the founders of our nation to create this </B></div> <div> <B>democratic experiment as one nation, under God, </B></div> <div> <B>indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"We are grateful to you that You have brought to these </B></div> <div> <B>shores a multitude of people with many ethnic, religious </B></div> <div> <B>and language backgrounds, and yet have fashioned one </B></div> <div> <B>nation out of so many cultures and traditions. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Even as we celebrate this great moment, we remember </B></div> <div> <B>before you the members of our armed forces. We </B></div> <div> <B>commend them to your care. Give them courage to carry </B></div> <div> <B>out their duties and courage to face the perils which </B></div> <div> <B>beset them, and grant them always a sense of your </B></div> <div> <B>presence in all that they do. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Finally today, we are especially grateful for this </B></div> <div> <B>inauguration which marks a new beginning in our </B></div> <div> <B>journey as a people and a nation. We pray that you will </B></div> <div> <B>shower the elected leaders of this land, and especially </B></div> <div> <B>George our president and Richard our vice-president, </B></div> <div> <B>with your life-giving spirit. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Fill them with a love of truth and righteousness, </B></div> <div> <B>that they may serve you and this nation ably, being </B></div> <div> <B>glad to do Your will. Endow their hearts with your spirit </B></div> <div> <B>of wisdom, that they may lead us in renewing the ties of </B></div> <div> <B>mutual respect which form our civic life, so that peace </B></div> <div> <B>may prevail with righteousness and justice with order. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"We pray that you will strengthen their resolve, as they </B></div> <div> <B>lead our nation, seeking to serve You in this world, that </B></div> <div> <B>this good and generous country may be a blessing to </B></div> <div> <B>the nations of the world. And may they lead us to </B></div> <div> <B>become in the words of Martin Luther King, members </B></div> <div> <B>of a beloved community, loving our neighbors as </B></div> <div> <B>ourselves, so that all of us may more closely come to </B></div> <div> <B>fulfill the promise of our founding fathers, one nation </B></div> <div> <B>under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. </B></div> <div> <B>All this we ask in Your Most Holy Name, Amen." </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>SONG: "BLESS THIS HOUSE" </U></B><B>(1927, words by </B></div> <div> <B>Helen Taylor; music by Mary Brahe)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bless this house O Lord we pray; </B></div> <div> <B>Make it safe by night and day;</B> </div> <div> <B>Bless these walls so firm and stout, </B></div> <div> <B>Keeping want and trouble out;</B> </div> <div> <B>Bless the roof and chimneys tall, </B></div> <div> <B>Let thy peace lie over all;</B> </div> <div> <B>Bless this door, that it may prove </B></div> <div> <B>ever open to joy and love.</B></div> <div> <B>Bless these windows shining bright, </B></div> <div> <B>Letting in God's heav'nly light;</B> </div> <div> <B>Bless the hearth a'blazing there, </B></div> <div> <B>with smoke ascending like a prayer;</B> </div> <div> <B>Bless the folk who dwell within, </B></div> <div> <B>keep them pure and free from sin;</B> </div> <div> <B>Bless us all that we may be, </B></div> <div> <B>Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;</B> </div> <div> <B>Bless us all that one day we </B></div> <div> <B>May dwell O Lord with thee. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>SONG: "THE AMERICAN ANTHEM" (unknown)</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>All we've been given </B></div> <div> <B>by those who came before</B> </div> <div> <B>The freedom of a nation </B></div> <div> <B>where freedom would endure</B> </div> <div> <B>The work and sweat of centuries </B></div> <div> <B>have brought us to this place</B> </div> <div> <B>What shall be our legacy? </B></div> <div> <B>What will our children say?</B></div> <div> <B>Let them say of me, I was one who believed</B> </div> <div> <B>In sharing the blessings I've received</B> </div> <div> <B>Let me know in my heart when my days are through</B> </div> <div> <B>America, America, I gave my best to you</B></div> <div> <B>Each generation from the plains to distant shore</B> </div> <div> <B>With the gifts they were given </B></div> <div> <B>were determined to endure</B> </div> <div> <B>Valiant battles fought together, </B></div> <div> <B>and with conscience fought alone</B> </div> <div> <B>These are seeds from which America has grown</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>BENEDICTION (CLOSING PRAYER) BY </B></div> <div> <B>REV. KIRBYJON CALDWELL, PASTOR </B></div> <div> <B>WINDSOR VILLAGE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, </B></div> <div> <B>HOUSTON, TX:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"O Lord, God almighty, the supply and supplier of faith </B></div> <div> <B>and freedom, how excellent is your name in all the earth. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"You are great and greatly to be praised. O God, as we </B></div> <div> <B>conclude this 55th inaugural ceremony, we conclude it </B></div> <div> <B>with an attitude of thanksgiving. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Thank you for protecting America's borders. After all, </B></div> <div> <B>as the psalmist reminds us, unless you, 0 God, guard the </B></div> <div> <B>territory, our efforts will be in vain. Thank you for our </B></div> <div> <B>armed service personnel. And it is with unswerving </B></div> <div> <B>thanksgiving that we pause to remember the persons </B></div> <div> <B>who have made the ultimate sacrifice to help ensure </B></div> <div> <B>America's safety. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Thank you, O God, for surrounding our personnel, </B></div> <div> <B>their families, their friends and our allies with your </B></div> <div> <B>favor and your faithfulness. Deploy your host from </B></div> <div> <B>heaven so that your Will for America will be performed </B></div> <div> <B>on Earth as it is already perfected in heaven.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"I confess that your face will shine upon the United </B></div> <div> <B>States of America, granting us social peace and </B></div> <div> <B>economic prosperity, particularly for the weary and </B></div> <div> <B>the poor. I also confess, O God, that each American's </B></div> <div> <B>latter days will be better than their former days. Let it </B></div> <div> <B>be unto us, according to your word. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Rally the Republicans, the Democrats, and the </B></div> <div> <B>Independents around your common good so that </B></div> <div> <B>America will truly become one nation under God, </B></div> <div> <B>indivisible, with liberty, justice and equal opportunity </B></div> <div> <B>for all, including the least, the last, and the lost. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Bless every elected official right now. O God, I declare </B></div> <div> <B>your blessings to shower upon our president, George </B></div> <div> <B>W. Bush. Bless him, his family, and his administration. </B></div> <div> <B>I once again declare that no weapon formed against </B></div> <div> <B>them shall prosper </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"And God, forgive us, forgive us. Forgive us for </B></div> <div> <B>becoming so ensnared in petty partisan politics that </B></div> <div> <B>we miss your glory and flunk our purpose. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Deliver us from the evil one, from evil itself, and </B></div> <div> <B>from the mere appearance of evil. Give us clean hearts </B></div> <div> <B>so that we might have clean agendas, clean priorities </B></div> <div> <B>and programs, and even clean financial statements. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"And now, unto you, O God, the one who always has </B></div> <div> <B>been, and always will be, the one king of kings, and </B></div> <div> <B>the true power broker, we glorify and honor you. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Respecting persons of all faiths, I humbly submit this </B></div> <div> <B>prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>BILLY GRAHAM LED THE FOLLOWING PRAYER AT </U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>THE INAUGURAL PRAYER SERVICE ATTENDED BY </U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>PRESIDENT BUSH AT NATIONAL CATHEDRAL, </U></B></I></div> <div> <I><B><U>JANUARY 21, 2005:</U></B></I> </div> <bR> <div> <B>"Our Father and our God, we thank you that the last </B></div> <div> <B>event of this historic week is a time of worship, a time </B></div> <div> <B>to hear your Word, to pray and to declare our </B></div> <div> <B>dependence on You. In the quietness and calmness </B></div> <div> <B>of this great cathedral, turn us away from everything </B></div> <div> <B>that would distract us, and help us to focus on our </B></div> <div> <B>need of You. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"We remember that it is written in the scriptures, </B></div> <div> <B>'Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor </B></div> <div> <B>in vain.' Our Father, we acknowledge Your Divine </B></div> <div> <B>Help in the selection of our nation's leaders </B></div> <div> <B>throughout our nation's history, and we believe that </B></div> <div> <B>in Your Providence You've granted a second term </B></div> <div> <B>of office to our president, George W. Bush, and our </B></div> <div> <B>vice-president, Richard Cheney. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"The next four years are hidden from us, but they're </B></div> <div> <B>not hidden from You. You know the challenges and </B></div> <div> <B>opportunities they will face. Give them a clear mind, </B></div> <div> <B>a warm heart, calmness in the midst of turmoil, </B></div> <div> <B>reassurance in times of discouragement, and your </B></div> <div> <B>presence always. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"We pray for their families, and we ask for your </B></div> <div> <B>protection and care for them during the pressures of </B></div> <div> <B>these next four years. Renew our vision, restore our </B></div> <div> <B>faith, rekindle our desire to love and to serve all </B></div> <div> <B>humanity. May we never forget that one day we each </B></div> <div> <B>will stand before you, to give an account of what you </B></div> <div> <B>have entrusted to us. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Finally our Father, we pray for our nation and our </B></div> <div> <B>world. We thank you for those who have sacrificed their </B></div> <div> <B>lives to give us our freedom. And we pray for those who </B></div> <div> <B>continue to serve our nation in places of great conflict </B></div> <div> <B>and danger. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"Above all, we join with millions of others across this </B></div> <div> <B>torn and confused world in praying for peace. Thank you </B></div> <div> <B>for the over-</B> <B>whelming compassion that our leadership </B></div> <div> <B>and our country have shown toward the suffering in </B></div> <div> <B>southeast Asia. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"And now, may this service become a time of </B></div> <div> <B>commitment for each one of us, as we rededicate </B></div> <div> <B>ourselves to You and Your will for our lives. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, </B></div> <div> <B>Jesus Christ, Amen."</B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>