Opening Prayer
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04/28/2026
Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben
God of grace and God of glory. You have told us to hate evil, love good, and maintain justice in the courtrooms of our daily decisions. How quick we are to resort to acts of violence, when common virtues should hold sway over even our most visceral discord.
You have warned us that every earthly realm divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household rent by internal conflict will not stand. And yet our impulse for contest seems to grow ever stronger, outpacing even the simplest act of common courtesy.
Cure thy children's warring madness. Bend our will from all that does not promote your peace. From all that feeds our pride, toward your control.
Call us out when we unleash our desires for things not of your design, and pursue instead that which seems to feed our appetites, but, in the end, only starves our souls.
Grant us your wisdom. May it be the only weapon we ever wield. Grant us moral courage. May it be our true aim, that we would attain your will.
Let the gift of your salvation be our portion as we seek to serve you in the living of these days.
In your eternal name we pray. Amen.
Amos 5:14–15
Matthew 12:25
"God of Grace and God of Glory"
Author: Harry Emerson Fosdick (1930)