Inclusive Prayers at City of Carrollton

Inclusive Prayers at City of Carrolton
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

By Mike Ghouse

I am proud of my City, the city of Carrollton for adopting inclusive prayers prior to the City Council Meetings. Tonight was my fifth time this year and we began this process about three years ago. We are a blessed city to have taken the lead in the nation to say who we are and we are blessed with Mayor Matthew Marchant and a great city council and staff.

LET'S PRAY

Dear creator and causer of the universe,

in your name we want to create a cohesive and peaceful Carrollton with care kindness and dignity to every one of the 130,000 residents of this beautiful City.

Dear God,
 please accept our gratitude in every name we call upon you; Manito, Yahweh, Elahi, Ishwar, Allah, Mahavira, Buddha, Wahe Guru, Ahura Mazda, mother earth and Jesus Christ.

Guide us to talk act and believe that we are one nation under you

Guide us to value and practice the principles of liberty and justice for all of your creation without prejudice.

We have gathered here this evening as representatives of a diverse community.

Thank you lord for inhabiting our city with all of your creation; represented by every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see you as one, none and many and in every form; male, female, genderless and non-existent, being and non-being, nameless and with innumerable names.

Help up to preserve the diversity and plurality you have chosen for us.  

As we undertake this mission we are painfully aware of the ignorance,

the prejudice, the fear, the mistrust and the hatred that divide people in our world today.

We recognized that these destructive attitudes are found not only in the other, but in ourselves as well.

Dear God, purify our hearts and minds

Dear God, give us wisdom and give us the courage

Dear God, help me welcome Anthony Wilder and Bob Garza to serve us.

Dear God, guide our Mayor, council and the staff to have an open heart and mind towards your creation and help them make the decision that you would be pleased with.

In your name we bow, Amen.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows and Dallas TV, Radio and Print Media. He presides America Together Foundation and is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, India and cohesive societies. Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. He is available to speak at your place of worship, work, school, college, seminars or conferences. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/