Wednesday, January 28, 2026

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 

Thursday, January 22, 2026

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