Opening Prayer
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02/05/2026
Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben
Our Father, who art in heaven. You have taught us how to pray and on this day with others who approach you from a multitude of faith traditions. We each offer prayers that reside deep in our souls, laying the petitions of our hearts before you.
From wherever we have come, we draw near to you in reverence, trusting that you will accept our manner of worship as holy and acceptable to you. Receive us even as we speak in many languages, with a wide range of voices, that the prayers of your children may ascend to your hearing as you answer our prayers with your unconditional love.
Show us how to respond in love to one another, even as you have loved us with all our strengths and
shortfalls, gifts and gaffes, differences and divisions. So may we show that love to those around us.
On this week, when we have taken time to acknowledge and defend religious freedom across the globe, may faith not be diminished by the divide of politics, but find its strength in the diversity of belief. May not law, but love compel us to safeguard the freedom of religion, for our fellow citizens. May not statute, but stewardship of your grace.
Call us to honor the dignity of all peoples, for this is your great command to love one another in the light of your love. We pray in the name by which we know you and I, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
John 3:34, 15:12