(Prayer offered by Rev. Ronald A. Hersom for the opening of the Nehemiah Assembly for ICARE on Monday, April 11, 2011)
Holy One, we give thanks for this day.
We have gratitude for the people of faith gathered here
this evening in doing the work of justice in this city we love.
And we have gratitude for its leaders here with us tonight.
As we open our hearts this evening Spirit of Life,
come unto we. Come unto we.
We, who in this past year, have been waking our conscience
with justice as our guide.
We, who have been joining with peoples whose rights are denied,
whose voices have not been heard.
We, who have deepened our call and commitment to live in,
create and become beloved community.
Oh gracious Love, as we are present to one another this evening,
may we sing in our hearts all the stirrings of compassion.
May we move in our hands, in our journeys,
in our actions and in our lives, giving life the shape of justice.
May the roots of our faiths hold us close.
May the wings of its love set us free.
Spirit of Life, come unto we. Come unto we.
In the name of the Sacred in each one of us,
the source of all in the universe for healing, renewal,
and celebration that we call by many names. We pray. AMEN.
