Dear and beloved stranger, please eat this food with us that we may all be nourished. As we begin our meeting, we declare that your purposes will prevail. Finally, let us think of all the people all over the world, members with us in the human family, who will not have a meal today. In either situation, you may find the following advice and examples useful. May they always show care and concern for each other, sharing joys, sorrows and burdens. Thank you for the blessings of our individual and collective God-given gifts. Sumaritan's Purse I refrained from telling George what I really thought--that praying to a god makes about as much sense to me as praying to a chicken. Then one person gently squeezes the hands of the people seated adjacent; this signal is quickly passed around the table and people then begin to eat and talk. Recruit Class Invocation and Benediction Recruit Class 131 Invocation. Invocation: Our God and God of our fathers, we gather as loyal members of our Cub Scout Pack, and we pray for Thy blessings. I pray that those who don't know him - or are not close to him - would feel such a warmth between the Father and me that they would hunger for that kind of relationship. May today be a memory that burns bright within them as they embark on life's great adventure. Amen. Strengthen us as we make tough decisions. Gracious God, Let us not make decisions based upon what we know but let us act based upon Your wisdom. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. Two of the councilmen who walked out, Wendell Gilliard and Robert George, stated their reasons in a March 27 Charleston Post and Courier article by Jason Hardin. Help us to work as a unified team in combining ideas for a great outcome. May we be strong in virtue firm in time of trouble, and always ready to help others in time of need. God, we thank you for this food. Minds in Gods Hands Prayer Heavenly Father, in our hearts we plan our course, but we pray that You establish our steps. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. Lord God and giver of all good gifts, we are grateful as we pause before this meal, for all the blessings of life that you give to us. For food in a world where many walk in hunger; For faith in a world where many walk in fear; For friends in a world where many walk alone; We give you thanks, O Lord. September 12, 2015 / Dreams, Dreams and Prayers. Be present at our table, Lord. Help us to clearly understand the objectives and expectations of this meeting and stay focused on those things. Let us enjoy ourselves, without guilt, As we honor each name, help us to remember all glory belongs to you. Open our hearts to your love. let us be truly thankful Support our honored student leaders as they continue to make a difference in the world and lead a life 'For the Greater Glory of God.' - Mary Cronk Farrell. For all of this we give you thanks. Bind our hearts and minds by Your Spirit. For more spiritual growth resources, check out the 5-day email studyWalking with Rahab by todays devotion writer, Kristine Brown. . A secular version of the famous Serenity Prayer can also work before a meal: Grant me the serenity Be present at our table, Lord, Be here and everywhere adored. The sun of Thy mercy is shining upon all, and the clouds of Thy bounty shower upon all. Prayer for Strength Precious God, I pray against the schemes of the devil over this meeting and instead I pray that You rule over this meeting. Let Your will be done as we plan and make decisions. Lions Prayer. Thy people bless, and grant that we may feast in paradise with thee. Amen. - Author Unknown. Gilliard said an atheist giving an invocation is an affront to our troops because they are "fighting for our principles, based on God." Lord God and giver of all good gifts, we are grateful as we pause before this meal, for all the blessings of life that you give to us. Grant us success in every good endeavor as we serve our community, our nation and our world. for one another. Help us to accomplish our goals while displaying your character. Bless us, O God. Invocations and Pledges. May those sharing information give us pertinent points so we all clearly understand. You are our Light and our Fortress. I pray that you will fill each employee with satisfaction at the great work they are doing for the sake of their country. However, we are not the Taliban. All glory belongs to you. Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. pray. For your presence here and now and for your presence at all times, we thank you. In fact, a godless grace can be very moving: it allows time for reflection and thanks focused on this world, appreciating the value of nature and acknowledging the human effort which went into bringing food, family and friends together for a meal. We lift up this bread; may it be food and symbol for all of us who shall eat it. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Throughout Scripture, special occasions were celebrated by holding a banquet, when your people would congregate to eat, fellowship, and enjoy your many blessings. Come and reveal Your will in every aspect of our life and ministry. to lead a group into the throne room of God. - Author Unknown. Copyright 2023, iBelieve.com. Jesus taught us to seek you first in all things. Amen. Bless us, O God. - Izola White. You are the source of all of our blessings. For food in a world where many walk in hunger; For faith in a world where many walk in fear; For friends in a world where many walk alone; We give you thanks, O Lord. We focus our hearts and minds on you. I pray that we do not grow weary while doing this good thing, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. I pray that we seek You for advice. Dear Father in heaven, thank you so much for this time together with our family, friends and church family. I especially pray for those who are deployed away from home. Please share this walk with us that we may all know nature's peace. However, when governments and other groups refuse to stop all religious commencements and invocations, they may sometimes agree to a humanist benediction as an alternative. We shall run and not be weary, we shall walk and not faint. Here is the invocation I gave, as several council members fled: Thank you for this opportunity to "invoke" a minority point of view. We humbly ask that You give wisdom, vision, and courage to those who have been chosen to be our new leaders. Bless our eyes and taste so that we may eat this food in a holy and mindful manner. Help us to resolve any disputes gracefully, be creative problem-solvers, and have great team spirit. Answer. those who have no festivity These invocation prayers are Scout Law Prayer: This is a very nice prayer based on the twelve points of the Scout Law. We must hold firmly to our unity, borne forward now not of tragedy but of loving kindness. Feed our souls on the bread of life and help us to do our part in kind words and loving deeds. Let us therefore proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessingslet us be humbly thankful for inherited idealsand let us resolve to share those blessings and those ideals with our fellow human beings throughout the world. May your presence be the extra taste to this meal which we eat in the name of your son, Jesus. Movements are successful when they appeal to folks outside the group. Prayer for Wisdom in Decisions Lord who enlightens, we ask for Your supernatural wisdom as we make some tough decisions in this meeting. Prayer to the All-Knowing God God of Love, we trust in You with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. Invocation for the Sovereign Pontiff - Lord Jesuss, shelter our Holy Father the Pope . We come before you to welcome you to this meeting. And once refreshed, may we give new pleasure to you, who gives us all. Amen. May everyone be engaged and involved, and may all concerns be addressed. Invocation Prayer for a Banquet Dear God, We thank you for this wonderful celebration that we share in now. Oh god of this great universe, I thank thee for the wonderful opportunity you have given me in being a member of a Lions club, which I believe is one of the greatest humanitarian organizations in the world that is always ready to help and care for the blind and many other unfortunates. For those who find these humanist graces too long, or dont want to be reminded of the suffering of others just before a celebratory meal, there are these simple words of secular thanks and good wishes: We are thankful for the food on this table. I pray that we feel Your presence during this meeting because You are with us wherever we go. In a world where so many are hungry, may we eat this food with humble hearts; in a world where so many are lonely, may we share this friendship with joyful hearts. Our Father in Heaven, we give thanks for the pleasure of gathering together for this occasion. Know a prayer that could be added to this page? Blessings on our meal. Lord, make Your face shine on us and be gracious to us. Help us to carefully consider the relevant information that has been gathered. This we ask in the name of Christ, Our Heavenly Father. May Your Holy Spirit bide and strengthen all of us in this coming year. this meeting. Purify our thoughts and motives so that each one of us will enter this meeting desiring the good of others and the pleasure of Your name. Change of Command Ceremony for a Squadron/Battalion - Invocation (Christian) (written by Chaplain Daryl Densford, prayed the 5-15 CAV Change of Command Ceremony, Ft. Knox, KY, 2005) Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for this beautiful day that we can stand before you. Copyright 2021 Beth McLendon of Inspirational - Prayers. opening prayer for a worship service Opening prayer for a worship service God of grace, We open our hearts, minds and souls to worship to you. Thank you for blessing us with another year, and for giving us the chance to gather and celebrate this milestone. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. I pray that You direct our steps so that this meeting can achieve our kingdom aims. The next prayer reminds us that the origins of our food lie in the wonderous creative hand of God, fashioning " so many tastes and textures, colours and aromas ". All: We light a candle to light the way to a better world for our children and our children's children, and all the children of God. May we be blessed by God as we share this food and as we work and live together for the good of all. All rights reserved. You are good, and we're thankful Your mercies endure forever. Satisfy the needs that need to be met during this meeting. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to gather here today. Amen. Be present at our table, Lord, be here and everywhere adored. Dear God, we seek Your honor in everything we do and say. We are ready to receive the rest, peace, and refreshment you offer. Help us make new connections and gain wisdom to do the work youve set before us. Date shared: Oct 19, 2014 | Download and Read Online 14 Banquet grace Prayers We Are Grateful, Lord, For Those . Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. As we begin our time of worship, we release our cares and anything else that would hinder us from experiencing more of you in this service today. A Prayer for a Class Reunion I was asked to offer the "invocation" at the 50th Class Reunion of my high school the other night. Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick, and suffering war and violence. I pray that we will be fruitful. We celebrate their capacity for creativity, for critical thinking, for focused effort. Amen. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. Amen. - Ralph Waldo Emerson. to those who gathered the harvest. - Author Unknown. for the good things we have A classic humanist alternative to a Christian Grace is: For what we are about to receive May 1, 2016 / Mitchell Lewis. Our Heavenly Father, Kind and Good Traditional Our Heavenly Father, kind and good, We thank Thee for our daily food. Without their love and support, this day would not be possible. - President John F. Kennedy. These prayers evoke a spirit of thankfulness and can be a good inspiration for your dinner prayer on Thanksgiving or any day. Go with a traditional prayer of thanksgiving for a familiar choice or go for something more unique. what's on this page? Amen. serve those who call upon us and to give of ourselves to those in. Let Your presence be made known and lead this meeting today. Loving Father, we thank You most of all for being here in our midst. Perhaps we can now become effective in making Charleston a more progressive community that celebrates, rather than fears, its diversity. You have inspired us with your creativity, displayed throughout this ever-evolving universe and echoed in the varied academic achievements of the students we honor in this convocation. They are usually one or two minutes in length, are delivered by a designated club member, and are entirely optional.. Dear earth who gives to us this food, Dear sun who makes it ripe and good, Sun above and earth below, Our loving thanks to you we show. Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. Your dinner prayer could range from symbolic and lengthy to short and simple. We pray that all voices will be heard and that we will have a mindset of inclusivity. let us take this moment to offer a prayer. Lord, let us not be misguided in this meeting so that we do not lead to decisions that produce ineffective results. We are grateful for this opportunity to honor and thank those who are leaving our ranks; first, for their dedication to the ideals of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and secondly, for the personal sacrifices they have made to bring these ideals to many others. May the seal of God's love rest upon this food and upon this day now drawing to a close. Even if we have different opinions, give us unity of spirit. Or how about this variation on a Native American thanks giving: We give thanks for the plants and animals who have given themselves so that we can enjoy this meal together. It is a little longer. We pray for open hearts and minds that will promote and accept better ideas. Amen. First, let us think of the people we are with today, and make the most of the pleasure of sharing food and drink together. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Amen. Colossians 3:23 says, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord As we observe the many accomplishments of our honorees, we acknowledge that none of it would be possible without you. "May your life be filled with laughter, endless happiness, and good fortune. Our Father in Heaven, we give thanks for the pleasure of gathering together for this occasion. Your Word says in Colossians 3:17, And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Thank you for blessing our time together. Bless this food [this bread] and grant that all who eat it may be strong in body and grow in your love. Help us to each listen politely as others share their points of view. Banquet invocations may be made by anyone who is capable of prayer, including the host, a child in the family setting or an honored guest, suggests the book "The Rituals. Let us be effective and decisive. Please submit one here: Submit a Prayer, To provide feedback, please email: jesuitresource@xavier.edu. I feel very grateful for their public support. Forgive us for moments when weve forgotten to put you first. We invite you to be with us during this retreat. Prayer of Thanksgiving Gracious God, we thank You for this opportunity to call people for a meeting. Amen. It reminded me of the importance of praying at the beginning of every occasion. Point our eyes to every positive outcome since our last meeting and let these favorable results and developments encourage every heart in this room. As we partake of this food, we pray for health and strength to carry on and try to live as You would have us. 21 Oct 2015 | Posted by Military.com. Please show us great and mighty things that we do not know so that this meeting can fulfill its role for the kingdom. But let us not forget that many are less fortunate. We are grateful that they and their families entrusted Xavier's faculty and staff to engage them intellectually, morally, and spiritually. The object is not just to drum up support among fellow humanists, though such grassroots activism is crucial, but to appeal to everyone's sense of fair play and tolerance. Help us to respect one another and work together. And how would you react if we were to organize a walkout during a Christian invocation? If you desire to entertaining books, lots of novels, tale, jokes, and more ctions collections are along with launched, from Since you redeemed us so dearly and delivered us from evil, as you gave us a share in this food so may you give us a share in eternal life. As you work together on behalf of all who live in this city, may you gain strength and sustenance from one another through reason and compassion. I was initially quite perturbed by the conduct of council members. O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities [and especially __________], that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. There is also this from the humanist writer Nicolas Walter: Let us think thrice while we are gathering here for this meal. - Christian mealtime prayer. What better way to honor the Lord than to open our gatherings, meetings, celebrations, and services with prayer? Thank you that today we dwell in your kingdom and live in your presence. - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. September 24, 2014 by Steve Harsh, posted in Christian Discipleship, Faith and Values. Blessed are you, Lord God, king of the universe: you raised your beloved son from the dead, and made him Lord of all. We give you the glory for everything that is accomplished. We invite you into our presence. Lord God, Thank you for your hope and grace. As we begin our planning, help us first seek you and your will. People can often sense our closeness with the Lordwhen they hear us Prayer for God to Answer Righteous God, we call onto You right now and we know that You will answer! Expressing gratitude for the food and appreciation of the company is all that is needed. We pray that they, and we, may use our many gifts of intellect, heart, and soul to address the problems that the human community faces in bringing justice more fully into the world and in tending wisely to the lovely garden that is our earth and our home. - Author Unknown. Even when such religious commencements make an effort to include people of all faiths they may exclude people with no religion. Below is a prayer that was delivered at a Cub Scout "Blue & Gold" banquet. opening prayers (athletic banquet or team cele-. The first prayer is appropriate for a time of celebration, such as wedding reception or baptism. For the roof above our heads, we thank You. Dear and beloved stranger, Please eat this food with us that we may all be nourished. Let us enjoy good companionship, Please sleep under these soft blankets that we may all know safety. Lord, make Your face shine on us and be gracious to us. Prayer 1. Give us balance in times of distraction and uncertainty. God is great, God is good. When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer. Father, we thank you through Christ our Lord. Amen. We have come together as a group united in passion and purpose. Thank You for this gathering to celebrate and rejoice in the life of (celebrant's name). O Who is like you, God, who is holy and loving like you? We must pledge our best efforts to help one another, and to defend the rights of all of our citizens and residents. You, O God, are the source of inspiration, the spark that urges us on to excellence. PRAYER FOR 50TH CLASS REUNION. I gave the invocation at the installation banquet for the Board of Directors for the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce this week which was made more meaningful because I was one of the people being sworn in as an advisory member of the board. I ask that we might know the blessing of your presence here this afternoon as we honor these young scholars. Wise Use of Time Prayer Lord, our Helper, enable us to wisely and efficiently manage our time in this meeting today. We ask that You would work mightily in us today. Blessed be our mother earth, our father sky and sun. Amen. It gives an example of what others can have with the Father. This we pray, in Jesus Name, Amen. Thank you for this opportunity to come together and work together. Help us to tackle all the topics we need to discuss, come up with excellent solutions, and leave this meeting inspired and on time. - Secular mealtime prayer. Reveal problem areas and show us the best solutions that will apply. We thanked God for the gift of getting together with friends and invited Him into our midst. Bless our food and our drink. "Lord, into your most holy presence we now come. Blessed are you, Lord our God, for ever and ever. Prayer for Fruitfulness Dear Lord, I pray that You guide us always. We ask that you would guide and direct Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. hunger inside of them. Father of mercy, all praise be to you through Jesus Christ our savior, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Prayer to Bind Our Hearts and Minds God of peace, we pray for unity in our meeting today. Amen. Many groups and government bodies begin their meetings with prayers or other forms of religious invocation conducted by a chaplain or religious minister. As this food is about to serve us as nourishment, may we also serve one another. We ask you to give us wisdom, patience, and guidance as we plan for the future. Banquet Invocation Prayer Pdf ebook that will have enough money you worth, get the unconditionally best seller from us currently from several preferred authors. Heres a beautiful Buddhist meal gatha that is entirely secular: We receive this food in gratitude to all beings May we have a spirit of camaraderie in this room and work together on our shared mission. Psalm 118:24 says, This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Father, with joyful hearts in the spirit of thanksgiving, we ask you to bless this banquet and each person here. It is important to come before God in prayer with a humble spirit. Prayers for our Chamber of Commerce. Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank thee for this food. "Right-minded" people, whether religious or not, should be appalled by the contemptuous behavior exhibited by members of the Charleston City Council. May all be loved. Let our aims in this meeting be aligned with Your direction. - Mother Teresa. Bless our eyes and taste so that we may eat this food in a holy and mindful manner. I ask for your blessing on this ceremony, our awardees and all who are gathered with us today. May this meal bring us strength and health. Blessed are you, Lord God, king of the universe: you raised your beloved son from the dead and made him Lord of all. Thank you for this special time of gathering in celebration. Thank you for visiting this Christian prayer page. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. - Izola White. Not sure what to pray for? Here are ten special opening prayers you can pray at your gatherings. Father, please guide us so that this meeting can be productive. This is true whether the meal is an informal family dinner around the kitchen table or a formal wedding reception. for our dedication and the binding cords between us. Who have helped to bring it to our table, Jorie Nicole McDonald leads editorial video efforts for Southern Living. God, as we begin this meeting, we ask that you would guide our thoughts and our actions so that we may have a successful meeting today. We ask that You be their guide and guardian as they move through their careers with their . Help us to work as a whole, rather than as individuals trying to promote their own agendas. I pray that You would give me, my children, my family, and friends what we need, whatever that may be, to see You and feel Your presence more clearly in our lives. First, the Republican: Father, we praise you for your son Jesus, who knew the happiness of family and friends, and in the love of your Holy Spirit. You have all power. Guidance Prayer Precious Lord, please give us guidance in this meeting because a lack of guidance causes a nation to fall, but victory is won through many advisers. Here in Your presence many friends and families are gathered to celebrate in fellowship. When I have been asked to pray for a public meeting, I have kept my main focuson my opportunityto manifest my closeness to the Father. A Christian Wedding Reception Prayer Dear Lord, we gather in this place in a spirit of celebration and gratitude. Amen. You are everywhere, Lord. Thank you for protecting us as we traveled and providing an opportunity to meet, learn, and grow. - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Book of Blessings, 179. - Harry Jewell. We ask for your hand of blessing on But there are also some longer or more formal wordings. Pause for silent reflection to remember those who have died. those who cannot share this plenty Let the sick and infirm rejoice, for their savior is born. Let the captives rejoice, for their Redeemer is born. God our Father, Lord, and Savior, thank you for your love and favor, bless this food and drink we pray, and all who shares with us today. Prayers of invocation remind us of the sovereignty of God. Let this meeting be aligned with the and a reflection of Your heavenly activity. I suppose it means that we are invoking God's presence or blessing. For an example of a more pointed invocation by an atheist, read this article. Remove the distractions that would keep us from you here today. That is my religion. Thank you for helping us to accomplish Let our plans be orchestrated by You. Thank you for making the way possible for this family celebration. Lord, it is such a thrill to know that I have been awarded this scholarship and I pray that I will work conscientiously and hard for the . We place You at the center of this.