Lessons From the Megillah - A Purim Prayer for the CO State House of Representatives

Our God and the God of all people,

This past Tuesday, Jews around the world celebrated the Jewish festival of Purim.  We read the Book of Esther – an ancient story of oppression, bravery, and vindication.  In synagogues around the world – and in bomb shelters in Israel, Jews dressed up in costumes, lost their inhibitions, and forgot about the problems that confronted us.

On Purim, we put on our masks and, for a few hours, take on the personas of our heroes and villains, our fantasies and our fears.

The book of Esther is the only book in the Hebrew Scripture where You are never mentioned by name – but Your presence is everywhere.  We find you in the bravery of Esther and Mordechai, who stood up for their faith – even in the face of death.  We find You in the Courage of Queen Vashti, who refused to allow herself to be taken advantage of and harassed by her boorish King.  We see You in the resiliency of the people who, in the shadow of evil cast by the wicked Haman, stood firm in their determination and strength.

God – even when Your name is absent you are present.

Even when we cry out in frustration, and disbelief we look to You for strength. In the Jewish Calendar, Purim falls about 6 months before the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur – a day of reflection and repentance – of fasting and intense prayer.

Our ancient Rabbis taught that there is a direct connection to the silliness of Purim and the somber tones of the Day of Atonement.

·      On Purim, we put on our masks.  On Yom Kippur we remove them.

·      On Purim, we laugh at ourselves – on Yom Kippur we cry tears of remorse.

In many ways, this holy chamber is also a reminder of the gap between these two festivals – between the sacred and the profane.  In this place, we confront the realities of our people.  We debate life and death issues that shape our State of Colorado and both reflect and set a standard for our national discourse. Help us to not take ourselves too seriously, God.  Help us to see the good in one another – in the sharing of ideas and the sacred arguments that must necessarily occur in the messy process of Governance

Bless these legislators, aides, lobbyists, clerks and staff - all who serve on a daily basis. Give them the strength of Esther and the wisdom of Mordechai to cut through the confusion and forge a path of prayerful leadership. As we remember a day of frivolity, may the humanity and holiness with which we all have been blessed become a pathway to reconciliation and respect.

AMEN

A Valentines Prayer for the Colorado House of Representatives

Our God and God of all people.

We know you by many names:

God of mercy, God of Justice, God of Salvation, God of all Humanity 

But this morning – let us call you God of Love…..

Today is February 12^th. In 2 days we will be celebrating Valentine’s day. 

Some here today – the more cynical among us - might think that a day set aside to focus on love is a ploy to sell chocolate and flowers. And they may be right. After all, shouldn’t we show our love every day? Shouldn’t we be grateful for the laughter and the tears, the kisses and caresses, the support and joy, the passion and the playfulness we share that makes each day seem brighter than the one before? The love that we give and receive makes us better human beings…….

But we aren’t always aware, are we? We are forgetful. We are creatures of habit. We take the people around us for granted and we expect them to love us nonetheless. And the crazy thing about it is that they do. Most of the time….

Dear God,

Our diverse traditions teach us that Your essence is love. You love us –otherwise why would you tolerate us? 

If You did not love us, how would you be able to stand idly by while we diminish Your image by despoiling your beautiful world?

If You did not love us, how could You let us live when we ignore the suffering or violence in our streets? 

If You did not love us, you would not have given us a conscience that wakes us from our slumber and forces us to realize our weakness, our frailty, our greed and our hubris.

Help us to love You  - O God of Love. Help us to love one another – so much so that we might rise above the our differences and focus on what unites us.

Help us to live so that we see that our very ability to love is a gift.

Bless these legislators O God. Bless all who labor for the sake of our beautiful state of Colorado. Help them to love one another. Help them to love their compassion and their quarrels. Help them to love the differences and the moments of clarity that occur when they do Your sacred work and help to perfect our world.

At this season of Valentines day – may we all find ways to rejoice in the love that makes our lives complete. 

It takes time to love – it takes patience. Sometimes it even takes chocolate and flowers.

But sometimes, our love makes Your love a reality.

May it be so today.  AMEN

Opening Prayer for the CO House of Representatives - January 29, 2026

 Our God and God of all people: 

 

We come to you this morning from different faith traditions.  As we celebrate the splendor and potential of our great State of Colorado, we acknowledge the fact that you reveal many truths – it is our task to hear and heed them. 

 

Merciful Creator, guide these Legislators as they go about their sacred work. May any conflicts that arise in the course of deliberation be seen as a reflection of the diversity with which we have been blessed. 

 

Holy One of Blessing – help our leaders to see the good in one other – and let that goodness triumph over partisanship. 

  

In this time of cynicism and divisiveness, help these men and women to see the people who, all too often are unseen – the men, women and children living on the edge - for whom these deliberations may very well determine the difference between hope and despair. 

 

May this day bring out the best in these leaders who have been elected to labor on behalf of their constituents. 

 

Our God - we have seen You in the faces of faceless – eager to love and be loved 

 

We have heard you in moments of wonder – when men, women and children come together in mutual longing and the promise of a better tomorrow. 

 

On this day of deliberation, let us pray that our leaders and officials might find You within themselves.   

 

·                May they find You in their ability to hear one other – to respect one other – to do the sacred work of governing our State of Colorado. 

 

·                May they find You in satisfaction that comes from hard work and due deliberation. 

 

·                May they come to know You as they come to know each other – and respect the skills that each brings to the floor of debate. 

 

·                May their discussions give way to a higher sense of purpose and understanding – and along the way, may it elucidate and elevate the decisions that are to be made. 

 

We thank you for these men and women who serve our great state of Colorado – the legislators, clerks, officers, and all who serve in the chamber.  Guide their deliberations with purpose and an awareness of the sacred. 

 

And let us say,  

 

AMEN 

Opening Prayer for the CO House of Representatives at the Beginning of a New Session - January 22, 2026

This is the 14th year that I  have been delivering opening prayers at the Colorado House of Representatives every Thursday.  Here is today's prayer: 

Our God and God of All People:

God of the Right and God of the Left;

God of the Haves and God of the Have-Nots;

God of Migrant and God of the Citizen;

God of those who have no God:

Merciful Creator, as we begin this new session of deliberation we pray for wisdom. We pray for understanding. We pray to tear down walls of divisiveness that prevent us from listening to and seeing one another – from engaging in healthy and honest debate.

This morning we seek meaning and purpose. 

Let Partisanship never get in the way of participation.

May our ears listen, and our hearts be moved as we labor for the continued vitality and vision of our Great State of Colorado.

On this day of deliberation, help us to remember that all of us – regardless of how we pray orif we pray at all– are vessels of holiness. Help us to see the Divine implanted within each human being in this chamber, in this building, in this city:  

·      those who languish in the streets, and those who live in the lap of luxury.

·      Those who are the beneficiaries of beneficence and privilege

·      And those for whom every day is a struggle

·      Those fleeing from trauma and those living in triumph

·      Those who strive to make a difference, and those who succumb to defeatism and degradation of the other.

Let these legislators, staff, clerks, and all who devote countless hours on behalf of our community find ways to connect on a level that triumphs over the transactional and moves us towards transcendence.

Let us remember that all debate can and should be holy. Let us strive to see the dignity in all your creation,

And let us say,

AMEN