A Prayer Before a Meeting

Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking for your guidance, wisdom and support as we begin this

meeting.

Before we become involved in the routines of our meeting, we pause to seek inside for strength and

wisdom.

We are of diverse opinion here. Yet, we wish to mend our differences and reach

agreement satisfactory to all.

Help us to engage in meaningful discussion; allow us to grow closer as a group and nurture

the bonds of community

Though we are each experienced in the ways of the world, all of us know too little of the ways of the spirit.

Our community calls us by

appointing us to office, to

give all of our worldly

knowledge in this meeting.

The spirit that moves between us calls us, by a secret whispering in our hearts, to give all that we can of love.

May we find in ourselves the ability to forgive and forget the failures and failings of the past, so that we

may be set free from them.

May we be always

more ready to see the good and hopeful in any person

and any matter than we are to

see the bad and the

despairing.

May we remember that when we set standards for what we expect of others, we should expect more from our

selves.

In our differences, may we be kind. In our agreements, may we be humble, so that those who learn of our work

may see the fruits of the spirit working among us.

Fill us with your grace Lord God, as we decide on matters that would affect our students, staff,

faculty and constituents.

Remind us that all we do here, all that we accomplish, is for the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of You

and for the service of humanity.

We ask you these things through Christ, your only begotten Son.

Amen.