| home

Presidential Inauguration Prayers

PRAYERS & SONGS PRESENTED AS A PART OF

THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE JAN. 20, 2005

INAUGURATION OF U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH:

INVOCATION (OPENING PRAYER) BY DR. LUIS LEON,

RECTOR, ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

WASHINGTON, D.C.:

"Most gracious and eternal God, We gather today as a

grateful people to enjoy the many blessings you have

bestowed on this nation.

"We are grateful for your vision

which inspired the founders of our nation to create this

democratic experiment as one nation, under God,

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

"We are grateful to you that You have brought to these

shores a multitude of people with many ethnic, religious

and language backgrounds, and yet have fashioned one

nation out of so many cultures and traditions.

"Even as we celebrate this great moment, we remember

before you the members of our armed forces. We

commend them to your care. Give them courage to carry

out their duties and courage to face the perils which

beset them, and grant them always a sense of your

presence in all that they do.

"Finally today, we are especially grateful for this

inauguration which marks a new beginning in our

journey as a people and a nation. We pray that you will

shower the elected leaders of this land, and especially

George our president and Richard our vice-president,

with your life-giving spirit.

"Fill them with a love of truth and righteousness,

that they may serve you and this nation ably, being

glad to do Your will. Endow their hearts with your spirit

of wisdom, that they may lead us in renewing the ties of

mutual respect which form our civic life, so that peace

may prevail with righteousness and justice with order.

"We pray that you will strengthen their resolve, as they

lead our nation, seeking to serve You in this world, that

this good and generous country may be a blessing to

the nations of the world. And may they lead us to

become in the words of Martin Luther King, members

of a beloved community, loving our neighbors as

ourselves, so that all of us may more closely come to

fulfill the promise of our founding fathers, one nation

under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All this we ask in Your Most Holy Name, Amen."

SONG: "BLESS THIS HOUSE" (1927, words by

Helen Taylor; music by Mary Brahe)

Bless this house O Lord we pray;

Make it safe by night and day;

Bless these walls so firm and stout,

Keeping want and trouble out;

Bless the roof and chimneys tall,

Let thy peace lie over all;

Bless this door, that it may prove

ever open to joy and love.

Bless these windows shining bright,

Letting in God's heav'nly light;

Bless the hearth a'blazing there,

with smoke ascending like a prayer;

Bless the folk who dwell within,

keep them pure and free from sin;

Bless us all that we may be,

Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;

Bless us all that one day we

May dwell O Lord with thee.

SONG: "THE AMERICAN ANTHEM" (unknown)

All we've been given

by those who came before

The freedom of a nation

where freedom would endure

The work and sweat of centuries

have brought us to this place

What shall be our legacy?

What will our children say?

Let them say of me, I was one who believed

In sharing the blessings I've received

Let me know in my heart when my days are through

America, America, I gave my best to you

Each generation from the plains to distant shore

With the gifts they were given

were determined to endure

Valiant battles fought together,

and with conscience fought alone

These are seeds from which America has grown

BENEDICTION (CLOSING PRAYER) BY

REV. KIRBYJON CALDWELL, PASTOR

WINDSOR VILLAGE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,

HOUSTON, TX:

"O Lord, God almighty, the supply and supplier of faith

and freedom, how excellent is your name in all the earth.

"You are great and greatly to be praised. O God, as we

conclude this 55th inaugural ceremony, we conclude it

with an attitude of thanksgiving.

"Thank you for protecting America's borders. After all,

as the psalmist reminds us, unless you, 0 God, guard the

territory, our efforts will be in vain. Thank you for our

armed service personnel. And it is with unswerving

thanksgiving that we pause to remember the persons

who have made the ultimate sacrifice to help ensure

America's safety.

"Thank you, O God, for surrounding our personnel,

their families, their friends and our allies with your

favor and your faithfulness. Deploy your host from

heaven so that your Will for America will be performed

on Earth as it is already perfected in heaven.

"I confess that your face will shine upon the United

States of America, granting us social peace and

economic prosperity, particularly for the weary and

the poor. I also confess, O God, that each American's

latter days will be better than their former days. Let it

be unto us, according to your word.

"Rally the Republicans, the Democrats, and the

Independents around your common good so that

America will truly become one nation under God,

indivisible, with liberty, justice and equal opportunity

for all, including the least, the last, and the lost.

"Bless every elected official right now. O God, I declare

your blessings to shower upon our president, George

W. Bush. Bless him, his family, and his administration.

I once again declare that no weapon formed against

them shall prosper

"And God, forgive us, forgive us. Forgive us for

becoming so ensnared in petty partisan politics that

we miss your glory and flunk our purpose.

"Deliver us from the evil one, from evil itself, and

from the mere appearance of evil. Give us clean hearts

so that we might have clean agendas, clean priorities

and programs, and even clean financial statements.

"And now, unto you, O God, the one who always has

been, and always will be, the one king of kings, and

the true power broker, we glorify and honor you.

"Respecting persons of all faiths, I humbly submit this

prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

BILLY GRAHAM LED THE FOLLOWING PRAYER AT

THE INAUGURAL PRAYER SERVICE ATTENDED BY

PRESIDENT BUSH AT NATIONAL CATHEDRAL,

JANUARY 21, 2005:

"Our Father and our God, we thank you that the last

event of this historic week is a time of worship, a time

to hear your Word, to pray and to declare our

dependence on You. In the quietness and calmness

of this great cathedral, turn us away from everything

that would distract us, and help us to focus on our

need of You.

"We remember that it is written in the scriptures,

'Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor

in vain.' Our Father, we acknowledge Your Divine

Help in the selection of our nation's leaders

throughout our nation's history, and we believe that

in Your Providence You've granted a second term

of office to our president, George W. Bush, and our

vice-president, Richard Cheney.

"The next four years are hidden from us, but they're

not hidden from You. You know the challenges and

opportunities they will face. Give them a clear mind,

a warm heart, calmness in the midst of turmoil,

reassurance in times of discouragement, and your

presence always.

"We pray for their families, and we ask for your

protection and care for them during the pressures of

these next four years. Renew our vision, restore our

faith, rekindle our desire to love and to serve all

humanity. May we never forget that one day we each

will stand before you, to give an account of what you

have entrusted to us.

"Finally our Father, we pray for our nation and our

world. We thank you for those who have sacrificed their

lives to give us our freedom. And we pray for those who

continue to serve our nation in places of great conflict

and danger.

"Above all, we join with millions of others across this

torn and confused world in praying for peace. Thank you

for the over- whelming compassion that our leadership

and our country have shown toward the suffering in

southeast Asia.

"And now, may this service become a time of

commitment for each one of us, as we rededicate

ourselves to You and Your will for our lives.

We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior,

Jesus Christ, Amen."