New prayer for Parliament coming
published: Monday | March 3, 2003
A NEW prayer has been proposed to replace the one currently used before the start of each sitting of both Houses of Parliament. Recently, the House referred the proposed prayer to its Standing Orders Committee and the Senate is set to follow suit shortly. Below, we reproduce both the proposed and existing prayers.
PROPOSED PRAYER
O God, the source of wisdom, whose statutes are good and gracious and whose spirit and whose law is truth: with your heavenly wisdom and renewing spirit, guide and support us your unworthy servants and representatives of the people of this nation now assembled in your name, that in all our consultation and decision-making, we may do the things which are acceptable to you, reflect faithful service to your people and advance your work in the world.
Grant that we, laying aside all private interests, prejudices, and sectional agendas, may consider all matters placed before us calmly and soberly, act wisely and with dispatch, upholding what is right and just, so that we nay be faithful in the discharge of our duties, provide for the needs of all our people, and that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served.
And grant further that having discharged our responsibilities with true fidelity we may be a people united under God, and committed to the promotion of the well-being of each citizen, the building of our nation, and embracing your way of righteousness, justice and peace, for your Name's sake.
Amen.
EXISTING PRAYER
Almighty God, by whom alone Kings reign and Princes decree justice, and from whom alone cometh all counsel, wisdom and understanding, we Thine unworthy servants here gathered together in Thy Name, do most humbly beseech Thee to send down Thy Heavenly Wisdom from above, to direct and guide us in all our consultations;
And grant that we, having Thy fear always before our eyes, and laying aside all private interests, prejudices, and partial affections, the result of all our counsels may be to the glory of Thy Blessed Name, the maintenance of true Religion and justice, the safety, honour and happiness of the Queen, the public weal, peace and tranquillity of the Island, and the uniting and knitting together of the hearts of all persons and estates within the same, in true Christian Love and Charity one towards another, though Jesus Christ Our Lord.
