North Carolina House of Representatives Prayers (Jan. 26, 2011 – Jan. 5, 2012) 1 January 26, 2011 Presiding Officer: I shall ask all members elect and guests in the chamber to please rise for the opening prayer, which will be offered by the Honorable Jim Martin. Jim Martin: Thank you. It’s good to be back since I told a reporter I would disclose, as required by law that I am here as a lobbyist, unregistered, before the Kingdom of Heaven. Would you bow your heads? Gracious, eternal, and all‐ provident God, Creator of the universe and everything in it, sustainer of life, we thank you and praise you for the many blessings you’ve brought to enrich our lives – the blessings of family and friends, the communities of faith from which we come, the bounty of future and beauty of nature all around us, the majesty of this state, which has called us to serve, and the glory of this one nation under God and its blessings of liberty for all. We remember and pray for all those we love who are absent, whose lives have been an inspiration and example for ours. Look now upon these, your servants, guide their minds and prepare their hearts for the difficult decisions and responsibilities that await them, that they might serve your people well and nobly. We make our prayer, each in his own way, many of us in the name of Jesus. Amen. January 27, 2011 Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Tricia Cotham. Rep. Cotham: Please bow your heads. Gracious and loving God, we come before you today in thanks for a great opening day yesterday. God, we ask you to bless every member of this chamber and we ask you to especially be with our new members and our new speaker and all of our families. Wrap your loving arms around us, guide us, and comfort us as we begin our duties. We have tough decisions ahead of us, and we will need your grace, your wisdom, and your comfort. We thank you for calling us to be your servant and never let us forget that we are here to serve you and all of the great people across our beloved state. In your precious name we pray. Amen. 1 Volunteers created the transcriptions from House audio recordings. Given the volume of prayers and the nature of the recordings, minor inaccuracies may be present. The original source audio is available online (http://tinyurl.com/2011‐12NCHouse).
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North Carolina House of Representatives Prayers (Jan. 26, 2011 – Jan. 5, 2012)1
January 26, 2011
Presiding Officer: I shall ask all members elect and guests in the chamber to please rise for the opening prayer, which will be offered by the Honorable Jim Martin.
Jim Martin: Thank you. It’s good to be back since I told a reporter I would disclose, as required by law that I am here as a lobbyist, unregistered, before the Kingdom of Heaven. Would you bow your heads? Gracious, eternal, and all‐provident God, Creator of the universe and everything in it, sustainer of life, we thank you and praise you for the many blessings you’ve brought to enrich our lives – the blessings of family and friends, the communities of faith from which we come, the bounty of future and beauty of nature all around us, the majesty of this state, which has called us to serve, and the glory of this one nation under God and its blessings of liberty for all. We remember and pray for all those we love who are absent, whose lives have been an inspiration and example for ours. Look now upon these, your servants, guide their minds and prepare their hearts for the difficult decisions and responsibilities that await them, that they might serve your people well and nobly. We make our prayer, each in his own way, many of us in the name of Jesus. Amen.
January 27, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Tricia Cotham.
Rep. Cotham: Please bow your heads. Gracious and loving God, we come before you today in thanks for a great opening day yesterday. God, we ask you to bless every member of this chamber and we ask you to especially be with our new members and our new speaker and all of our families. Wrap your loving arms around us, guide us, and comfort us as we begin our duties. We have tough decisions ahead of us, and we will need your grace, your wisdom, and your comfort. We thank you for calling us to be your servant and never let us forget that we are here to serve you and all of the great people across our beloved state. In your precious name we pray. Amen.
1 Volunteers created the transcriptions from House audio recordings. Given the volume of prayers and the nature of the recordings, minor inaccuracies may be present. The original source audio is available online (http://tinyurl.com/2011‐12NCHouse).
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January 31, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Marilyn Avila
Rep. Avila: Let us pray. Our Gracious Heavenly Father, as we come here tonight we honor you as our creator God. We thank you first for so many blessings that you have showered upon us. First and foremost, this great land that we live in, for the freedoms that we enjoy, for the state of North Carolina that we have been asked to lead. We ask now that you would give us the knowledge of the issues that face us. We ask that you would give us the wisdom to apply the knowledge as we make the laws for this land. We praise you and thank you for the many blessings that you have poured down upon us, the safety that each one of us had coming here tonight, and just ask your power and glory to shine over our families that we have left behind, that you would strengthen each one of us as we work here today, through this week. In your name and in your son’s Holy Word we ask it. Amen.
February 1, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Wainright. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Wainright: Let us pray. Oh Lord our God, we are grateful for this another day and we ask your blessings on us as your public servants and the servants of your people. As we gather to do your will and the work of the people of this state, we ask for your constant presence and direction in this legislative process, touch each heart and mind as we deliberate on the issues of the day and provide us with individual and collective guidance. Give us courage to stand up for that which is right and open the eyes of our faith to your will, for it is only with you as our focus that we truly see clearly, for it is in the name above every name that we pray. Amen.
February 2, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Phil Shepard. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Shepard: Let us pray. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for your many blessings. We thank you for the opportunity to serve the people of North Carolina. We pray that you will grant us wisdom and guidance in all of our decisions today. We pray for our communities, state, and nation. Your Word says that if my people, which are called by their name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, and forgive their sin and will heal their land. Lord, this is our desire today – that you will heal our nation. Lord, we also ask that you protect our military men and women that are defending our freedoms in our nation overseas. We ask that you put a hedge of protection around them. We pray for your blessings as we conduct business today. May all that is said and done today bring glory and honor to you. All this we ask in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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February 3, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Angela Bryant. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Bryant: My prayer today will be from the words of last verse of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as “The Negro National Anthem.” This was written as a poem in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson, a prolific writer, lawyer, diplomat, educator, and composer, and set to music in 1905 by his brother John Rosamond Johnson. The poem was first publically performed in the celebration of Lincoln’s birthday on February 12th 1900 and performed by 500 schoolchildren as a part of the introduction of their special guest, Booker T. Washington. James Weldon Johnson was their school principal at the time. Let us pray.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou Who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou Who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee. Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee. Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.
Amen.
February 7, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer today will be offered by Eagle Scout and Representative Bert Jones.
Rep. Bert Jones: Let us pray. Our Father and our God, we come humbly now before you, first as individuals you have created in your own image. We also come collectively as this elected body representing the citizens of our state. We pray this evening and always for wisdom and discernment that comes from you alone. We acknowledge that according to your Word the beginning of wisdom is indeed, the reverential fear of the Lord. Even the beginning of knowledge is also the fear of the Lord. Father, we pray that our agenda will always be to stand for truth and righteousness, and to that end we celebrate the stated values of the Boy Scouts of America as we honor its anniversary today. The Boy Scout promise begins: “On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty, to God.” May that promise be our prayer as well. We offer our prayer each in our own way, many of us including myself in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 8, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Tom Murray. Members and visitors in the gallery please stand.
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Rep. Tom Murray – Please meditate with me over Psalm: 101. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A forward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD. Amen.
February 9, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Harry Warren. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Harry Warren: Let us pray. Oh God, as we gather to conduct the affairs of our great state, we ask your guidance to remember that we are here to serve those who elected us rather than to have them serve us. Help us to do your will and to glorify you in all that we do for those who we serve. Keep us humble. Keep us pure in heart and keep us focused on what is best for our state and for our country. Bless us oh God so that we might be a blessing to others. This we pray, many of us in Christ’s Holy name. Amen.
February 10, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Jimmy Dixon. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Jimmy Dixon: Let us pray. Our kind Father in Heaven, we pause at the beginning of this session to give thee thanks for the very favorable circumstances under which we assemble and for these fine facilities in which we meet. We thank thee for the wonderful freedoms and liberties that we enjoy in America and for the opportunity to serve the people of North Carolina. We our grateful for the divinely inspired constitutions of America and North Carolina that sets forth the conditions under which we can legally and lawfully conduct the people’s business. We’re thankful for and acknowledge the efforts of our freedom loving foreFathers who toiled long and hard that we might be their beneficiaries receiving the fruits of their labors. We thank thee for this beautiful Earth that thou has created for us thy children and acknowledge thy hand in all the good things in our lives. We thank thee for those past and present who have served in various military services and for the efforts in this chamber to remind us of the real cost of freedom. Heavenly Father, we thank thee for the most precious gift ever given, the gift of thy son to atone for our sins. Please accept these expressions of gratitude and thankfulness as we express them to thee. Bless each of us individually and this assembly collectively with an abundance of thy spirit as we proceed to conduct the people’s business, each of us
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closing this petition to thee in our own way, some of us in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
February 15, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Rick Glazier. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Rick Glazier: Oh God, who blessed our ancestors, source of strength in every generation, for the sick and suffering please send healing and hope. To the forgotten and lonely send the gift of love. To the weary and the wronged send renewed strength. To the confused and distressed send light. To the pursuers of justice send wisdom and courage and to the seekers of peace and vision and resolve inspire all who lead and serve to conduct their affairs honorably and with compassion. May peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom abide among us. Unite the inhabitants of our state and nation of all backgrounds and creeds so that we banish hatred and bigotry, safeguard our noblest ideals and preserve those institutions, which nurture liberty. And finally God, may our state be an influence for good throughout the world, helping unite all peoples of the world in peace and freedom and bring us closer to the fulfillment of the vision that nations shall not lift up sword against nation and neither shall they learn war any more and let us say, Amen.
February 16, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered today by Representative Patsy Keever. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Patsy Keever: Thank you. Could we bow our heads please? May the power of love from whatever source in whomever’s name bring us together in mind and spirit so that we may be guided to do our work today, supported and inspired by that love, in the name of all that is holy. Amen.
February 17, 2011
Presiding Officer: Please join me in prayer. Our great creator God, we stand before you awed and humbled by the unearned mercy and grace you’ve bestowed upon us, your creation. Each of us has come to this place today by our own unique path, guided by your hand but united in one purpose, to serve honorably and well the people of North Carolina. Make us ever mindful of those who’ve gone before us and grateful for the legacy they have passed to us. We ask for your wisdom, mercy and love as we struggle with the difficult decisions before us, so that we may continue their legacy of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for our citizens. Let us be especially in prayer today for the men and women serving our country at home and abroad. Place a mighty hedge of protection around each and every one of them and their families as they stand in harm’s way to protect and preserve our nation. This I pray in the Holy name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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February 21, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer this evening will be offered by Representative John Blust. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
Rep. John Blust: Thank you, if you’ll bear with me. Heavenly Father, we just thank you that we can come together with these proceedings and a nation as great as you’ve given us. You’ve blessed us richly and we thank you for having an assembly like this where those who are elected come to serve those who elected them in open proceedings. And Father we ask your hand upon these proceedings this day and this week as we try to grapple with problems sometimes that seem greater than we can handle and we ask your wisdom and your guidance upon these proceedings. We also ask your blessings on those who are overseas in harm’s way protecting our way of life and our freedom. We ask your hand and shield upon them. And again we just thank you for blessing us beyond with what we deserve and we humbly pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
February 22, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Bill Cook. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Bill Cook: My Pastor, Dr. James Moore, prepared this prayer. May we pray. Oh God, you are the fountain of all wisdom, the author of all truth and the trader of all that is good and gracious. You have given us this great land for our heritage. We humbly pray that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and ready to do your will. Save us from violence, pride, discord, and from every evil way. Help us to be quick to defend our liberties and fashion us into a united people who are eager and ready to do your will. We ask this day that you might guide us as we enact laws and care for the business of our state, that our work might be pleasing in your sight and beneficial to those we serve. Grant us wisdom and grace as we exercise our duties, fill our hearts today with thanks giving, and in the day of trouble help us to ever trust in you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
February 23, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Larry Bell. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Larry Bell: Let us pray. Our Father and our God, we thank you for this day and for all the blessings of this life. We have gathered here once again, in this chamber, to serve our constituents, who have entrusted us to work for their interests and well‐being. Please endow us with more wisdom, knowledge and understanding so that we may perform our duties and carry out our many responsibilities in ways that will be pleasing to you. We pray that you will continue to enlighten us with your
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sprit, guide our thoughts and control our lives, so that we may be always a servant to you and all mankind. Amen.
February 24, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Marcus Brandon. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Marcus Brandon: Let us pray. Dear Father God, we thank you for the opportunity of prayer, we thank you for the many blessings that you have bestowed on this body, our state and our country. We ask that you continue to bless us and bless this body as we do the people’s work. We ask for traveling mercies as we all travel back to our home state and we ask for continued blessing for the staff, sergeant at arms, pages and the clerk staff that makes us do what we do every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
February 28, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Representative Kelly M. Alexander. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rep. Alexander: Let us pray. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, let us into the light. Keep us forever in thy path, we pray. Least our feet stray from the places our God will remit thee. Bless our hearts drunk with the wine of the world we forget thee. Shattered beneath thy hand, may we forever stand true to our God, true to our native land. God Bless North Carolina and the deliberations of the General Assembly. Amen.
March 1, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Alice Bordsen. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Bordsen: Mr. Speaker, members, and guests, I long for the House to have a chaplain again. A thoughtful person who stands apart from us but who understands the strange world in which we work and each day crafts a prayer that is grounded in what we have in common, what joins us rather than what separates us. A prayer that provides a moment of respite and reflection between the struggles and stress of our mornings and the debates of our afternoon.
And in that vain, I have chosen a prayer to read. A prayer offered by our last chaplain, the Reverend James H. Harry. If you keep your booklets of accumulated prayers in the chamber, I am reading from the 2005/2006 booklet, page 37, June 6. So join me in reading if you would like to. But, let us pray: Almighty God, we are quite bold to come before you asking for your divine guidance, given the simple fact
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that everything you created and called good we have found a way to destroy. You created the Earth for us to enjoy, and we have enjoyed it to the point where we endanger it. You gave us the beasts of the field and the birds of the air to name, and we have named many into extinction while endangering countless others. You gave us each other to befriend and enjoy, and we have even created divisions amongst ourselves; divisions that bring war, open hostility, and argumentative debate. Yes, indeed Lord, we are quite bold to come before you, but we come anyway. And we come because even in spite of our frailties and failures, you beckon us to come. Thus, it is right and good that we seek thee and beseech thy endless mercy. May it be granted unto us, we humbly pray? Amen.
March 2, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Martha Alexander. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Alexander: Let us pray. Oh God, our Heavenly Father, eternal and loving creator, give us strength and courage to meet our duties each day; grant us wisdom and foresight as we debate the issues; give us compassion for those whom we serve; guide us through the maze of issues which are before us as we collectively serve all of the citizens of North Carolina; grant us humility and patience as we work together to build communities so the laws we enact may be ones of truth, charity, and justice, and fill us with joy, grace, and an inner peace as we go about our daily tasks. Amen.
March 3, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Ms. Marilyn Soot. Marilyn is on staff from the House Principal Clerk’s office, and she holds a Master of Divinity degree from Shaw University. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Ms. Soot: Let us pray. Dear Lord, we thank you for all of our many blessings and for the many opportunities that we have to serve you. Please bless our leaders as they assemble here each day. Guide their minds and hearts as they work for the good of this state and your people. Allow them to be generous in their outlook, courageous in face of difficulty, and wise in their decisions. In your awesome and special ways, please grant favor to all staff. Please bless our great state and country and help us always to remember that we are one nation under God. These things we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
March 7, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Representative Glen Bradley. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rep. Bradley: May we all now come before the Lord, each in our own way, and grant us an accord in prayer. Oh gracious Heavenly Father and almighty God, we come before you tonight bowed of head and bowed in heart, humbling ourselves before the alter of love and truth. May it please you Lord to open your face to us as we open
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our hearts to you, and guide us along the way of mercy, truth, and right as we represent our constituents that sent us here today. May it please you Lord to grant us division to discern what is true, give us the wisdom to understand the cause and effects of policy, and award us the courage to do what is right for the United States, the state of North Carolina, and the people of our constituent districts. May it please you, Lord, to allow us the humble honor of truly representing the will and the voices of the many people of our home districts and work towards creating a government and an environment that every one of us can be proud to leave to future generations. A passage in our most common creed teaches that the King’s heart is like channels of water in the hands of the Lord. He turns it wherever he wishes. I’ve recited from Proverbs 21. Bless us together as one family in God with the lives of North Carolinians in our hearts and dwelling in the mind of one who many of us know as Jesus Christ. Here then, in one accord, may we pass our own hearts into the will of God. All ye present who now stand in agreement, let us say Amen.
March 8, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Alma Adams. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Adams: This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Let us pray. Father, God, we come today with thanksgiving in our hearts thanking you for many blessings of life, health, strength, and prosperity. Realizing, dear God, that you’ve done for each of us, what you’ve done for us, has not been because of any little gracious thing that we might have done in return. But knowing, Our Father, that you’ve spared us along this journey and you’ve chosen favor on us, simply because of your mercy and your grace. So today we thank you for your tender, loving mercy and your grace. Lord, for the high honor and the privilege of serving your people, we are most thankful for those blessings today and every day. Grant us wisdom to do what is right, not because of political expediency, but because it is indeed the right thing to do. Grant us compassion enough to always show concern for all people, especially the least of these. Give us minds to do your work in a way that is both pleasing to you and respectful of those lives that have entrusted in our care and help us always to respect each other and the differences and diversity that we bring to this body. Where we’re weak, dear God, give us strength. Where we’re torn down, lift us up. In these difficult times of turmoil and financial hardship for so many people in our state, grant us diligence, persistence, and the will to make a positive impact on the quality of their lives. Give us direction in all of our deliberations and grant us kindness enough to show commitment to our duties and service by being true to your appearance of Christ, knowing in the end that when all we attempt to do, only what we do for Christ will last. We come this day, we bring these petitions, in the precious name of your son Jesus and for his sake. Amen.
March 9, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Jennifer Weiss. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
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Rep. Weiss: Today I would like to offer a prayer of thanks from my faith tradition. Let us pray. We give thanks for the gift of life, wonder beyond words; for the awareness of soul our light within; for the world around us, so filled with beauty; for the richness of the Earth, which day by day sustains us. For all these and more, we offer thanks. Amen.
March 10, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Deborah Ross. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Ross: Members, when I was first elected, I had the great fortune of having probably one of the state’s greatest ministers as a constituent. Reverend W.W. Finlader. We even did a resolution honoring him in this general assembly. And, as a gift when I first got elected, his wife, Mary Lib Finlader, shared with me a book of prayers that she uses for different occasions and so I went through that book and found one that I thought would be particularly appropriate for this general assembly. So this is thanks to Mary Lib Finlader.
Oh God of children and clowns, martyrs and bishops, saints and sinners, thank you for this day with its chance to love and hope and laugh and look at the dogwood in all of its glory. Thank you for friends who make a claim upon our hearts; for teachers who open our minds to new and wondrous thoughts; for musicians, who help us sing along the way, for people who take stands, rather than polls; for leaders who do something, rather than talk about everything; for those who disturb our consciences and nudge us from our comfortable positions; for those who attempt beauty, rather than curse ugliness; and thank you for all those brave soldiers of peace everywhere, who risk their lives that others may have food and a safe resting place. Amen.
March 14, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Representative Bill Brawly. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rep. Brawly: Those who will, join me in prayer. Father, we give you thanks for this glorious day. Help us to see the beauty you give us every day and to remember as we see the warm sun on face, to accept the joys that you give us. As we gather in this chamber tonight, we ask that you clear our hearts and our minds, so that we can see your will and do it. Grant us the wisdom to serve our state in such a manner that when we leave this place, North Carolina will be better for our having been here. We each come to you in our own way, many of us in the name of Jesus. Amen.
March 15, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Ray Rap. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
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Rep. Rap: Members and visitors, in my church’s tradition, the prayer leader begins prayer with the words “the Lord be with you.” And the people respond, “and also with you.” Please join me at the opening of the prayer by saying, “and also with you” after my opening. The Lord be with you.
(“And also with you.”)
Rep. Rap: Let us pray. God of love, spirit of understanding, creator of the universe, give us wisdom and strength to do your will, grant us unwavering commitments to justice, stewardship, and service, and make us ever mindful of the needs of others. In your name we pray. Amen.
March 16, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Rick Glaser. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Glaser: What does it mean to really hear each other? The person who attends a concert with his mind on business hears but does not really hear. The person who walks amidst the songs of birds and thinks only of what he will have for dinner hears but does not really hear. The man who listens to the words of his friends, or his wife, or his child and does not catch the note of urgency hears but does not really hear. The person who listens to the news of the day and thinks only of how it will affect their bank account hears but does not really hear. The person who stifles the sound of her conscience and tells herself she has done enough already for others hears but does not really hear. The person who listens to a sermon but thinks that someone else is being addressed hears but does not really hear. During this session, Lord, please strengthen all of our ability to hear; may we all hear the music of the world and the child’s cry and the colleagues sigh; may we all hear the call of help of any lonely soul and the sound of all breaking hearts; may we hear the words of our friends, and also their unspoken pleas and dreams and may we hear within ourselves the yearnings that are struggling always for expression and may we hear you, Lord, as well. For only if we do hear you, do we have the right to hope you will hear us. So today hear our promises that we make to you, to do what is in the best interest of all the people of our state, this country, and the world and may we hear them too. Amen.
March 17, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Ken Goodman. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Goodman: St. Patrick was an Irish patron saint and one of the church’s most beloved missionaries. It is appropriate today that we hear St. Patrick’s prayer that can inspire us and ask for divine assistance in living each day. May the strength of God pilot us; may the power of God preserve us; may the wisdom of God instruct us; may the hand of God protect us; may the way of God direct us; may the shield of God
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defend us; may the host of God guard us against the snares of the evil ones, against the temptations of the world this day, oh Lord, and forever more. Amen.
March 21, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Representative Craig Horn. Visitors and members in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for our Pledge of Allegiance.
Rep. Horn: Please let us go to God in prayer. Dear Lord, Father in Heaven, we again gather in this house to do the people’s business. It is therefore your business that we do, oh Lord. We humbly ask that you grant us objectivity and sound realism that will guide us to a clear path of that which seems the best. Grant that we may not deviate from what is right and for the good of all in favor of what is easy or unjust. Grant us an unwavering loyalty to our people to be firm in our adherence to the principles we openly profess to the noble resolve to stand above ourselves and be without corruption and self ambition. Help us to be calm in our deliberations, immune from passion, except that which is inspired by truth. We seek your guidance for the challenges ahead and beg forgiveness for the missteps of the past. Our hearts are filled with sorrow and grief for the events of this past week. We pray for those in Japan that have suffered and continue to suffer, those in Libya that are caught up in a civil war borne out of oppression and lust for power. Our hearts are with our brave young men and women in service to our country and the cause of freedom around the world, most especially in armed conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq among many other places about which we are not aware. We are commanded to do what is revealed to us in the Old Testament. Micah 6:8, “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God.” In our own little way, dear God, we endeavor to take the rectitude, which thy providence doth direct and govern for thy greater glory and for the wellbeing of human society. Hear us, oh Lord, in order that our minds may never by without thy light nor our wills without thy strength; keep us far from human ambition and inspire in us a regard for justice; and finally, oh Lord, we ask that you guide and direct us, as you hold each of us, in the hollow of your hand. Amen.
March 22, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Greer Martin. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Martin: Please bow your heads with me in prayer. God, we come to you in prayer, strained under the burden of serving your people in tough times. Let us be humbled by this duty placed upon us. We thank you for this free form of government, where the people govern, not a dictator; where we come to this place to resolve our differences, not through violence, but through peaceful deliberation. At the same time, Lord, you know that even this peaceful deliberation can put a strain on those of us who serve here. We ask your help to sustain us through these trying times. As we deliberate, grant us the courage to advocate for what we believe is right and help us follow your example of love as we seek to reconcile ourselves to those with whom we disagree. Serving the people can be tough, Lord, help us
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remember in humility that others are sacrificing much more to give us our freedom. Keep them safe as they serve in much tougher, less peaceful conditions throughout the world. Bring them home to their families and care for their wounds of body and of mind. Lord, as this one Christian comes to you, praying in Jesus’ name, we give you thanks for our freedoms as Americans to worship as Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, and so many other ways. We give you thanks for this and the many other freedoms we enjoy in this great nation and great state. Amen.
March 23, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by representative Jennifer Weiss. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Weiss: Today I would like to share one of my favorite prayers. A prayer for peace. Let us pray. May we find peace with those we love, growing together over time; may we be at peace with ourselves, and with the labors that fill our days; may we render peace in our world with wisdom and gentle patience; may we be at peace with the source, let understanding come our way. Blessed are you, Eternal One, source of peace. Amen.
March 24, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Jerry Dockem. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Dockem: Thank you Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House. Today I want to do something a little different for our prayer. I wanted to share with you a poem that’s been very special to me over the last several years. It’s a poem written by a young man from Scotland County, John Charles McNeil, that I first heard about when I was a student at Wake Forest. He was a student at Wake Forest in 1894 and no, we were not classmates. He went on to become a professor and a member of the faculty and he actually served one term in the State House. In 1905 he won the Patterson Cup for Literary Excellence in North Carolina and unfortunately he died at the young age of 33. The name of the poem, the title, is Sundown by John Charles McNeil. Will you bow your head with me please? Hills wrapped in grey, standing along the West, clouds dimly lighted, gathering slowly. The star of peace, at once above the crest. Oh holy, holy, holy. We know, oh Lord, so little what is best, wingless we move so lowly but in thy calm, all knowledge let us rest. Oh holy, holy, holy. Amen. Thank you.
March 28, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Representative Susan Fisher. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rep. Fisher: Good evening members. In the tradition of another of my colleagues, when he came to give the prayer, Representative Rad, I would like to ask you, when I say “the Lord be with you,” to respond “and also with you.” This is a prayer from Jim
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Cotter’s Out of the Silence. The Lord be with you. (And also with you.) Let us pray. Living God, may we encounter you this day in the laughter of children, in the skills of those who create, in the pauses of the elderly, in the patience of those who teach, in the loyalty of friends, in the dedication of those who serve, in the exuberance of animals, in those willing to make fools of themselves. May we be your blessing to one another. Amen.
March 29, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Ray Rap. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Rap: Members and visitors, as we did last evening, with Representative Fisher, I would like to open the prayer by saying “the Lord be with you,” and have you respond by saying, “and also with you.” The Lord be with you. (And also with you.) Let us pray. Lord, we are thankful for the beauty of North Carolina, its beauty, its people, its resources; we celebrate its natural beauty from the melting snows, and the great smoky mountains, to the sparkling, warm sands of Okrakoch Island. We are thankful for the blessings of Spring: the greening of the grass, the flowering of the gardens and trees, the singing of the birds. We are thankful that you use this season to remind us about rebirth and renewal, and your love for all creation; we are thankful for the prayerful support of North Carolina’s nine and a half million citizens; we are thankful for our families, who support our work here and at home; we are thankful for the models of leadership we see around us, servant leaders who govern with integrity, strong principles, and great compassion. Grant us the wisdom and courage to love and serve you, our families, and the people of this state; make us ever mindful of the needs of others; give us the wisdom to recognize the dignity and worth of each individual and guide us away from partisanship that closes our hearts and minds to those with differing points of view. In your name we pray. Amen.
March 30, 2011
Presiding Officer: Ladies and gentleman of the House, the prayer will be offered by Kieran Hardy, legislative assistant to Angela Bryan. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Leg. Asst. Hardy: Dear Heavenly Father, we bow before you with humble hearts, thanking you for this new day filled with you grace and mercy. Thank you for each and every person that you have placed here during this time and season. Give every legislator eyes to see your truth and ears to hear your voice. Only you know what is just. Give them discernment and revelation to make Godly choices; enable them to see clearly the consequences of decisions that are not pleasing to you; cover them with your love and teach them to demonstrate love, one to another. All these things I ask in your name. Amen.
March 31, 2011
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Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Jean Farmer Butterfield.
Rep. Butterfield: Please join me in prayer.
Presiding Officer: Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Butterfield: Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home, we come before you humbly, and in thanksgiving for the blessings bestowed upon us individually, as a state, and as a nation. We are especially thankful for this legislative body, and for the privileges of serving our fellow citizens. Make us mindful of the opportunity which is ours to make a difference in the lives of so many; grant us an attitude of good faith, wise counsel, fellowship and devotion. We are acutely aware of the many challenges we face in this state: economic, functional, and educational. Internationally, we are aware of the natural disasters in Japan and turmoil and strife in the Middle East. In times such as now, we need guidance and wisdom to make decisions that will help us to manage our struggles, both personal and legislatively; help us become more conscious of our needs, the needs of our neighbors in this body, in our state, nation, and the world. Be with us as we discuss, explain, and debate matters before this body and conduct the affairs of the people of North Carolina; inspire us to solve the problems of our state; help us to create an atmosphere of kindness, courtesy and respect for one another in each others ideals; help us to resist any temptations to dominate, control, or forget the needs of all. Grant us [inaudible] of stewardship now and forever. Amen.
April 4, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Becky Carney. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
Rep. Carney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the House, if you will, ah, join me for a moment of silence and if you will reflect inwardly, ah, on your life to this point where you are today and then if you will reflect on the celebration of life as we are moving forward into the season, ah, for some of us in our religious beliefs and if you also will reflect on the incredible job and honor that has been bestowed upon each and every one of us in this chamber. Thank you. Let us pray. (silence) We ask for your guidance, dear God, as we as individuals seek your, your will and your guidance for it is not our lives, but yours. Amen.
April 5, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Rayne Brown. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Brown: This is a compilation of prayers that have been prayed over us many times by Rev. Glen Sanford of West Side Baptist Church in Lexington and Mrs. Nancy Hudspeth (sp) from Winston‐Salem. Let us pray. Dear Lord, we know we are in this
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place at this time only by your will. We have tasks before us in the coming weeks and months that will take all the strength and fortitude that we can summon. We ask that you be with us every minute of every day. We ask for guidance and for wisdom and for your protection. You tell us in your word if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land. May those in this assembly hear your name and those in this state who are called by your name humble themselves and pray and seek you. Please give us a servant’s heart, a humble heart that always acknowledges what a privilege and a blessing it is to serve the people of this extraordinary state. Help us give them the best that is within us to give. We ask all this in your name, Lord, the creator of all things good, of all that ever was, of all that is and of all that ever will be. Amen.
April 6, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Nelson Dollar. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Dollar: This prayer will end with a traditional North Carolina blessing followed by a call and the answer to that call will be a heartfelt amen. Let us join in prayer to the one Almighty and living God. Lord our creator, redeemer and sustainer, we thank thee for your grace and we ask for your blessing on this house. While our words may clash and the debates swing to and fro, Lord, you know our hearts. We are all here under your divine authority united in our desire to faithfully serve your people. Give us strength for today and faith in your provenance for tomorrow. Lord, as the sweetener hides in the tea, so let us hide in thee. And all God’s people said amen.
April 7, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. James Langdon. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Langdon: Let us pray. Almighty God, bless us with your spirit as we serve you in North Carolina in our capacity as representatives. Oh God, bless us with wisdom and understanding as we serve the people of North Carolina. Grant us patience and insight as we work together to pass legislation for the citizens. May we bless you with our willingness to serve you and our fellow man. May we demonstrate this day and every day our love for you in how we conduct ourselves with respect and appreciation for one another. Oh God, it is our aim to make our world a better place; however, we are only human and need your guidance to accomplish such a high goal. Bless us with that ability. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
April 11, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Rep. Bill McGee. We ask that all members and visitors please stand and remain standing. We have a special
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person leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance tonight, Mr. Charlie Thomas. Rep. McGee.
Rep. Bill McGee: Join me in humbling ourselves for meditation and prayer. Scripture tells us in 2 Chronicles, chapter 16, verse 9, God casts his eyes continuously throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. So then God, the question arises from your people, shall not we seek a way to have our hearts become more perfect toward you? Then in Isaiah, chapter fifty‐five verse six, your word says to call upon you while you are near, to call upon you while you can still hear. How disconcerting that we could call and we would have moved too far away for you to hear. I believe, though, that we have not moved so far from you that you can’t hear, so with confidence, I call upon you and offer as my fervent prayer enlighten a pathway for us to follow which will make our hearts perfect toward you and urge us onward when we falter. Then, God, after following your path when we offer our praise and ask for your help you will joyfully show yourself strong in our behalf because our hearts will be perfect toward you and most importantly then at last our request will be just. Amen.
April 14, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. G.L. Pridgen. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Pridgen: First, I would like to say to each of you that it’s an honor to serve here with the leaders, members and staff of this body and I try to pray for everyone here every day. Ah, the prayer I’m going to offer is one first prayer in the first continental congress, delivered by Rev. Jacob Duche rector of the Christ Church in Philadelphia, September 7, 1774. Please bow your heads. Be thou present, oh God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions here represented, such temporal blessings as thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior. Amen.
April 16, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Weiss. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Weiss: Good morning. As this is going to be a very short session, I thought I would give you a very short prayer. Thank you God for giving us life, sustaining us and bringing us to this day. Amen.
April 18, 2011
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Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Rep. Verla Insko. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rep. Insko: Members, I chose Monday night to lead the prayer because I like the beginning that we have on Monday night, it’s a time when we come back for another week to work together and this Monday is very different, ah, because of the storms that hit our counties. Many back home are suffering and many of our members are there with them tonight as they should be, so as we begin this week, I would ask that you please respond to let us acknowledge God’s presence with us here now. The Lord be with you. Let us pray together. God, we are hurting. Our hearts are torn. We come to you tonight in supplication, seeking your special care and love for those who lost so much this weekend. We seek solace for those who lost children and loved ones, friends and neighbors. We seek protection for those who lost their homes, their schools, their jobs, their sense of safety and security. We seek strength and wisdom for the community leaders as they begin the long rebuilding. Ah, our lives are changed forever. We grieve with our constituents at home. We bring them to you. We hold them in the light. Even as we grieve, God, we are reminded of your incredible powers of love and renewal. We seek compassion among those who reach out to comfort. We witness courage among the hurt and bereaved. We sense purpose within communities to rebuild. We take heart, God, in this season of renewal when the world around us blooms with new growth and new energy and we pray that that same urge to thrive will provide comfort and relief and hope in the days ahead. As we begin this week, God, set our feet on your path. Amen
April 19, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Dewey Hill. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Hill: Mr. Speaker, members of the House, I selected this prayer prior to the storm we had this weekend. I know that a lot of folks are suffering from property damage and even loss of life, so I hope we’ll keep them in our prayers. Let’s go back to April 18, 1995, sixteen years ago, the ’95 session of the General Assembly. Hal J. Brubaker was Speaker of the House. The Rev. William T. Mills was the House chaplain. This is the prayer that he offered that day. Let us pray. Father God, we thank you for the gift of life today and for the men and women who make up this body. They are capable, able and focused on serving the people of their district. I been thinking some, Father, about a recipe for making a representative. I think I would give him the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, the strength of Samson and the hide of an alligator. Mix in equal proportions the courage of a lion, the gentleness of a lamb. I would anoint him with insight and perception of a David. Put a pinch of peacock to make him strut a little then I would bust up his heart a time or two to give him feeling and compassion. And after that, I would get him elected and send him to Raleigh and give him a job so hard nobody could do it without your help to teach him faith. Then I would sit back, pray for him and watch him work. Seems to
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me like that’s what I’m doing, Father. So bless the working of this body and also help me with my praying. We make our prayer in the name of the Lord, amen.
April 20, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Danny McComas. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. McComas: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, members of the house, visitors. This is a very special prayer for me. I keep a little card in my car, and at times when it’s, you know, things are trying and you just pull it out and you read it to yourself and it’s been around for a long time, so let’s bow our heads. It’s the prayer of St. Francis. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that we receive and it is in pardoning that we are pardoned and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life, amen.
April 21, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Dan Engle. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Engle: Let us pray. God and most gracious Heavenly Father, we just thank you Lord for just everything that you do for us. Lord, we thank you for being there always, in our times of need, in our times of joy. Father, as we come to you now, Lord, we just lift up the poor souls that have lost family members, lost their property, had family members get injured. Lord, we just pray for them now. Lord, we thank you for being the mighty physician. We know you can heal, we pray for the healing for those who are injured. Comfort those, Lord, at this time, those were hurt and injured and killed in the tornado, the families. Father, I do pray for members of our service overseas, for freedom for us, serving in our military, Lord, may you displace that mighty veil of safety over them. Keep them safe, bring them back to us, and Lord I do pray for the members of this General Assembly. Lord, we just pray that as we make the decisions that affect those that we serve, our citizens, Lord, we ask for you divine guidance during this time. And Father, we thank you for loving us. And these things I do pray in your most precious Heavenly name, amen.
April 25, 2011
Presiding Officer: Prayer tonight will be offered by Rep. Pat Hurley from Randolph County. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
Rep. Hurley: Let us bow our heads, please. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this beautiful, beautiful day you’ve given us, we thank you for the jobs that you have
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allowed us to take and try to do the will of our people. We ask that you give us wisdom in everything that we do and all decisions that we make and please be with us as we go through this week, amen.
April 26, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Kelly Hastings. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Hastings: First of all I want to say I feel very blessed today to have my daughter, Sophie, in the gallery. Ah, I’ll do something a little different. This comes from Oswald Chambers in his book, My Utmost for His Highest. This is taken from John chapter 18 verse 36 and Oswald Chambers called it “The Unheeded Secret.” (Reads) “The great enemy to the Lord Jesus Christ in the present day is the conception of practical work that has not come from the new testament but from the systems of the world in which endless energy and activities are insisted upon but no private life with God. The central thing about the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship to himself, not public usefulness to men. You have no idea of where God is going to engineer your circumstances, no knowledge of what strain is going to be put upon you, either at home or abroad and if you waste your time in over‐active energies instead of getting in to soak on the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, you will snap when the strain comes, but if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in God on the unpractical line, you will remain true to him whatever happens.”
April 27, 2001
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Marvin Lucas. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Lucas: It’s stated in the Scripture that when two or three are gathered in my name, we be honored. One of my favorite passages of scripture comes from the apostle Paul in Corinthians. It’s a very familiar scripture that we all would know. Corinthians 13th chapter – “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I’m become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal and though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it prophetic me nothing. Charity suffereth long and is kind. Charity in be it not. Charity bought it not itself. It’s not prepped up. Doth not behave itself unseemly. Seek it not for own, is not easily provoked. Thinketh no evil, rejoice it not in iniquity, but rejoice it in the truth. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, doeth all things. Charity never faileth. But wither there be prophecies, they shall fail. Wither there be tongues, they shall cease. Wither there be knowledge, it shall vanish away, for we know in part and we prophesize in part what when that which is perfect is come, than that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a
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child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Now we see through a glass darkly, but then, face to face. Now I go in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Amen.
April 28, 2011 Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Larry Womble. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand. Rep. Womble: Thank you, Mister Speaker. Out of the night that covers me, Black as a pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever Gods may be for my unconquerable soul. A portion of “Invictus.” Let us pray. Dear God, we adore and appreciate you for this day that you have allowed us to see. It is not by our own strength that we are here, but it is only by your precious grace and mercy. Father, we would also ask that you guide us as we serve to the best of our abilities here in this chamber. Help us to make the best decisions possible that will help all North Carolinians live the best and fullest life possible. Father, we thank you in advance for all that you are doing and will continue to do for this great state and the citizens of this great state of North Carolina. Amen. May 2, 2011 Presiding Officer: Members, in honor of some things that have happened in the last few hours, we’re going to have a little different cadence this morning, but we’re going to start with Representative Phil Haire with our prayer. Rep. Haire: As we begin the first day of the first week of a new month, as we pause to give thanks for our many blessings, as we remember our neighbors suffering from the springtime storms, let us turn to the book of Psalms for hope and comfort. Let us pray. I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Oh, give thanks to the Lord. Call upon his name. Make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Talk of all his wondrous works. Glory in his holy name. Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord. Remember his marvelous works which he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known and our Fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength and his wonderful works that he has done, that the generations to come might know them, even the children which should be born would sure arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments. He shall judge thy people with righteousness and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people and the little hills by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy. He will break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun
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and moon endure throughout all generations. In thee, oh Lord, do I put my trust. Let me never put to confusion. Deliver me in righteousness and cause me to escape. Incline thine ear unto me and save me. Be thou my strong habitation whereunto I may continually resort. Thou hast given commandment to save me for thou art my rock and fortress. Deliver me, oh my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou my hope, oh Lord God, thou art my trust from my strong refuge. Thou art my hope, oh Lord God, thou art from my youth. Oh, God, thou hast taught me from my youth and heretofore have I declared thy wondrous works. And now also when I’m old and gray‐headed, oh God, forsake me not until I have shown thy strength unto this generation and thy power to everyone that is to come. Hear this all ye people. Give ear all ye inhabitants of the world. But low and high, rich and poor together, my mouth shall speak of wisdom and the mediation of my heart shall be understanding. In you, oh Lord, I put my trust. Let me never be ashamed. Deliver me in your righteousness. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Blessed is the man that waketh not in the counsel of the unGodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate night and day. When I consider thy heavens, the work of they fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visited him? For thou has made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of they hands. Thou hast put all things under his feet. Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord! How excellent is thy name in all the earth. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer. I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Amen.
May 3, 2011 Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Bill Current. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand. Rep. Current: Thank you Mister Speaker. Please join with me in prayer. Almighty God, we bow our heads before you, recognizing your glory and wonder and the blessing of prayer you bestow upon us. We come to you mindful of the devastation and suffering experienced recently by so many. While storms have resulted in the loss of life, property, and a sense of security, we know you’re the shelter in the storm. Hold your people in the palm of your hand, and let them know your profound love. [inaudible…] throughout time you’ve been a God of love and also a God of justice. Thank you for all of those who have dedicated themselves to bringing justice to the world’s leading terrorists (?). Let us not forget the lives, the innocence, and the individual liberties we lost nearly ten years ago. We pray this victory provides some comfort to our nation and to the loved ones of 9/11. Great God, your divine
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wisdom goes beyond all understanding. Humbly we seek to set a path for this great state and meet the political challenges of this, our day. You set an example for our discourse through your son. While it is right to be passionate in our calls to serve, let us remember his commandment to love one another. Lord, lead us now as we occupy these seats of honor and service. Grant us humility in order to learn, discernment in order to decide, and a hope to build a better tomorrow. Forgive us where we fall short, and let us all that is good be to your glory. In His name we pray. Amen. May 4, 2011 Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative David Lewis. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand. David Lewis: Let us pray. Dear Lord, thank you for the divine providence you have freely given during this continuing 235‐year exercise in self‐government, undertaken (ing?) by the people of the United States. Thank you, Lord, for pouring out your blessings on the state of North Carolina from the majestic peaks of our mountains to the rolling hills, to the peaceful, serene coastline. Surely you have given tremendous beauty and worked your will upon this canvass, and I marvel at the splendor. Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Thank you for the opportunity to learn from and share with all those whom [sic] contribute their talents and promote their passions and devote themselves each day. Lord, I ask that you give us the ability to deflect from the daily road blocks of competing interests and to build bridges to a brighter tomorrow for our ourselves and our posterity. Lord, finally, I ask that our labors may reflect your insight. Amen. May 9, 2011
Presiding Officer: Visitors will retire from the chamber. Members and visitors will please silence all cell phones. The prayer tonight will be offered by Representative John Faircloth. Members of the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rep. John Faircloth: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Please bow with me if you so choose as we go to the Lord in prayer. Almighty God, at some time in the decent—ah—distant past you cast the grains of sand to form our shoreline. You drew up the granite rock to shape our mountains and you swept your hand across the piedmont plain. This place you provided, soon in your time, began to bustle with the beauty of nature and the presence of mankind. We are part of this land, through our foreFathers, whether native‐born or through migration. Through trial and strife, war and hunger, and the back‐breaking labor of generations, this home of ours called North Carolina took shape and prospered. We are now, Lord, in another chapter in our history. Those of
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us in this house, were sent here by our neighbors in this time of uncertainty to represent our present concerns and to take proper action to prepare this great state for our children’s future. This is a task not to be taken lightly. Every time we raise out voice, or reach out our hand to vote on an issue we affect the lives and fortunes of all those who come after us across this state. Heavenly Father, if ever in the lives of each of us, we had need of your presence, it is in this time, in this chamber. Grant us, God, the compassion of heart, the wisdom of mind, and the courage of conviction, to do what is just, right and beneficial to those at home who are awaiting anxiously. Be with those of our state who are yet homeless and troubled from the recent storms. By your hand, make them whole again. We especially ask, Lord, that you go with those of our sons and daughters who are serving in foreign lands in protection of our nation and our way of life. Keep them safe and bring them home soon. Gracious and loving God, we give you thanks for all the blessings we receive day after day. Help us to be honorable and worthy of those blessings. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight. There words of prayer we offer each in his or her own way, and for many in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
May 10, 2011
Presiding Officer: The House will come to order. The members will take their seats. Visitors will retire from the chamber. Sergeant at arms will close the doors. Members and visitors, please silence all cellular phones and personal electronic devices. The prayer will be offered by Representative Pat Hurley. Members and visitors in the gallery please stand.
Rep. Pat Hurley: Let us pray, please. Heavenly Father, as we come into this chamber today, God bless to be mindful of the great opportunity to be granted, and the tremendous responsibility we have to serve the citizens of our districts and our state. Help us to center down and remain attuned to the magnitude and consequences of our decisions as we vote on legislation that will affect all North Carolinians. Please guide us with your powerful hand, and grant us wisdom to do what is right for the people—right and the good for the people (sic). Thank you for the many blessing that you bestow on us each day, including the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the world we live in. Please be [glitch in recording] President Obama and our national leaders, as well as the leaders of other countries around the world. Please also be with Governor Perdue and everyone in leadership roles in North Carolina. Please grant them knowledge and wisdom in their daily decisions. Please guide and protect those who are serving in our military. They and their families are sacrificing daily for their willingness to answer the call for our nation. Please heal our land and be with those who have suffered through weather‐related devastations here and abroad. All glory, honor and praise be unto thee. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.
May 11, 2011
Presiding Officer: The House will come to order. Members will take their seats. Visitors will retire from the chamber. The sergeant at arms will close the doors.
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Members and visitors, please silence all cellular phones and all personal electronic devices. The prayer will be offered by Representative Winky Wilkins. Members and visitors in the gallery please stand.
Rep. Winky Wilkins: Thank you Mr. Speaker. My prayer today is made up of excerpts from a song entitled, “For All They Gifts of Love.” Will you join me in prayer. For food in a world where many walk in hunger. For joy in a world where many walk in fear. For friends in a world where many walk alone. We give you thanks, O God. For light in a world where many walk in darkness. For peace in a world where many walk in fear. For friends in a world where many walk alone. We give you thanks, O God. For these and all of our many things unspoken. For gifts unknown and as of yet unseen for these and all thy gifts of love, we give you thanks. O, Lord. Amen.
May 12, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Elmer Floyd. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Floyd: Giving honor today our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. God of our weary ears, God of our silent tears thou who have borne us thus far on the way, thou who by his might have led North Carolina into the light giving honor today to the alpha and omega in our life for it was recorded in the record long before we entered into the world this question should we pay, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not. The response was, show me the coin. The citizen brought forth a penny and it was asked who name or image is on the picture. The citizen said unto him, it is the Caesar. Then render therefore to Caesar all things that are Caesar’s. We, the one hundred and twenty members of this chamber must render unto the 9.5 millions North Carolinian, good sound government. We must allow our voices, as we discuss matters today, let it speak for us. With this prayer, I echo to my chamber members, oh Lord; my heart will lay peaceful and calm. Amen.
May 16, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Rep. Frank McGuirt . Members and visitors in the gallery will stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
Rep. McGuirt: Members of the House, let us pray. Most gracious God, supreme architect of the universe, we bow humbly before you to give thanks for this wonderful world and all your bountiful blessings and to ask your forgiveness for our shortcomings and transgressions. We ask your blessings, Lord, as we meet here in service to our fellow citizens. Never let us lose sight of our charge, of our oath or of our duty to strive to enrich and make better the lives of all within the great state of North Carolina. Give us the knowledge, the skill and the wisdom to do what is best in your sight and keep us ever‐mindful that we are pledged to serve all and all stations in our society fairly and equally as your word says. We ask for your blessings and guidance for all in positions of leadership in our state and nation and we ask for
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special blessings for our men and women in the uniform of our country wherever our flag flies this evening. In your great name we pray, amen.
May 17, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Angela MacMillan, legislative assistant to Rep. Darren Jackson. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Ms. MacMillan: Let us pray. Father God, I love you with all my heart and all my mind and all my soul. I thank you, my Father God, for life and life more abundantly, for this day, this time, this moment in time for this is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. I’m glad for the privilege of allowing me to pray today that I would be allowed to pray openly in this place and I don’t take it for granted. Now Father, we come before you thanking you for our leaders. They come from every hamlet and mountainside up to the outer banks and down to the ocean front, to the sand hills and the triad, to the towns and cities, to the farms and the metro areas, all the way over to Cherokee and down to Ft. Bragg, Camp Lejeune and Paris Island and in every nook and cranny across this great, majestic state, from the mansions to the duplexes, to the suburban neighborhoods to the low to moderate income areas, from the Army barracks and colleges to the trailer courts and the universities. They come from all backgrounds and beginnings that you and only they know, really. They come only because of you yourself have called them, so we thank you for them collectively and individually. We thank you for them one by one, for them and their service to this great state of North Carolina. We pray, Father God, that they never forget where they come from nor who sent them here to serve. In your words, you’ve asked us to pray for our leaders, so Father, I start by praying for my leader, my boss, Rep. Darren Jackson, his wife, Tina, little Jack, Logan, Alicia. I thank you God for his kindness, his generosity of service, his Godly wisdom, his sharp intellect and humility. I pray now, Father, for Speaker Tom Tillis, his wife and his family, his safety, Father, from his departure to his destination and back again, for Godly wisdom and discernment, for his dependence on you, oh Lord, oh God. I know personally the pains and stresses of leadership, so oh God, bless him indeed. I pray, Father, for Denise Wiggs. She has held this legislative body together year after year after year. In the ups and downs, Denise has been here. Father, I pray for our governor, Beverly, Beverly Perdue, her family, her health and her well‐being and all the prayers we pray for Speaker TIllis, we pray for her as well. Leadership is a burden as well as a blessing. Bless her, Father, indeed. We pray now, Father, for our president, Barack Obama, for his wife Michelle, for Sasha and Malia, that you yourself would perfect that which he does, thinks and prays for in this great country. We pray for his optimum health, his mental clarity and supernatural wisdom and power from you, oh Lord. We pray this same prayer for this legislative body, for the pastors here today, for the staff, from the housekeeping crew to the research team, to the legislative assistants and all the staff, the interns, and the pages and all of our visitors. We call them blessed. Now please turn to your bible briefly if you will to second chronicles chapter seven fourteen. It reads as such, If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and heal
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their land. So Father, we come to you today with contrite hearts. We ask, Father, we cry out to you for forgiveness for the things that we’ve thought, the things that we’ve said, the things that we’ve done, the things we have not done, forgive us, Lord. Oh Lord, my God, in first chronicles twenty nine eleven, your words says that everything in the earth and in the heavens is yours, oh Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone and you are the ruler of all mankind. Your hand controls power and might and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength and finally, Father God, there is a passage in the bible, in Matthew twelve twenty‐five that says that every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. In the amplified version, as Jesus spoke, this word was spoken. Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand. There are also messages in Mark and Luke that say the same thing, and so I get it. I pray that we all get it. It’s not about us. It’s about those children, those babies yet unborn, those elderly people, the people of today, the people of yesterday in those hamlets and mountainsides. That is why we are here and so Father, I ask you to bless us, to bless us. The lesson here, Father, is that it is not about us, it’s always about those who we serve, so please let us know, Heavenly Father, this thing deep in our heart, Father God, that the people in the hamlets, on the mountainsides and the Outer Banks are the people who depend on each one of you to do the right thing. I love you, Lord, I could go on and on, this is the same prayer I come to you every morning with, so you know my voice and you know I’m going to say the same thing and so this is my prayer that I pray for each one of you every day. It’s a lot longer than this, believe it or not, but I want to say I love you, Lord, I thank you for receiving our prayer and in Jesus’ name and all those who agree, say amen.
May 19, 2011 Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Linda Johnson. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand. Rep. Johnson: Thank you. Let us pray. Thank you, Lord, for the day we are experiencing, for its trials and its blessings. Thank you for walking with us and giving us the honor to serve the people of North Carolina. Help us, Lord, to be filled with your love and wisdom, that we may share that spirit in our lives and in our service. Help us to know, Lord, that whether we’re on the back row or standing at the speaker’s podium, the chair, or a committee member, we’re all equal in your eyes, in our service, and in our vote. As we share our voices and the voices of those that sent us to serve, may we share them with your wisdom and in your spirit of love. We thank you for those who support us in doing our work from the leader to the lecturer, the law officer to the office staff, from the researcher to the drafter. May we remember each day that without their assistance, our jobs would be impossible. For their service, Lord, we’re grateful. For most of our members, today, Lord, is the
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last day of our week here in Raleigh. Please go with us and keep us safe as we travel home to our districts. As we finish our week in our districts, we ask that you give us the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, and a heart filled with your love and compassion. I ask these blessings in the name of my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
May 23, 2011
Presiding Officer: House will come to order. Members will take their seats. Visitors will retire from the chambers. The sergeant of arms will close the doors. Members and Visitors will please silence all cellular phones. The prayer tonight will be offered by Representative Efton Sager. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand.
Rep. Sager: Let us pray. Loving and gracious God, we give you thanks for the privilege of serving your people. Scripture commands us to fear and revere our God, yet we often find ourselves fearing each other, attempting to do that which pleases those around us rather than obeying your will enable us to always search and desire your heart, A heart that seeks justice and mercy for all people. We ask for understanding and compassion during our time together acknowledging our human limitations and shortcomings. We believe you to be the source of all that it good and right. Enable us to do that which is loving kind and faithful for those we represent. May we be merciful and graceful in our decisions. Although we come at many differences and backgrounds and ideologies we share in our common concern for the people of our land. May our commonality of love for your people be greater than the sum of all of our differences. Despite our inadequate and flawed actions may our intentions be pure and true. We pray that your mercy and grace will be sufficient for our mistakes and imperfections. God doesn’t lead us now. Open our hearts and our minds to your wisdom. In your name, we pray. Amen.
May 24, 2011
Presiding Officer: Members and visitors, please silence any personal electronic devices and cellular telephones. House come to order. The prayer will be offered by Representative Justin Burr. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Burr: Thank you Mr. Speaker. Before I start the prayer I’d just like to point out that I’m very happy to have my seatmate back. As you probably know he’s been gone for three weeks now after having hip surgery is able to hobble around in the chamber a little bit. And I hope you all will welcome him back. Certainly glad to have him. (Applause) Let’s pray. Almighty God, we thank you for allowing us to be present in this place for one more day, and for the honor to serve the citizens of the old north state. As we come together weekly to govern the state of North Carolina we humbly ask for your guidance and wisdom in our decision making. Especially over the coming weeks as we move closer to a finalized state budget for the people
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of this state, and the hectic weeks that will occur before crossover. I pray that through your guiding hand that we do what is pleasing and right in your sight. Last but most importantly, I pray for each and every citizen of our state. And that you will love support, guide, and bless each and every one of them. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
May 25, 2011
Presiding Officer: House will come to order. Members will take their seats. Visitors will retire from the chamber. The sergeant of arms will close the doors. Members and visitors, please silence all cellular phones or personal electronic devices. The prayer will be offered by Representative Pat McElraft. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Pat McElraft: Before we start our prayer today, let’s bow our head for a moment of silence and reflection of the victims of the tornadoes in our state and those against—that have occurred in the rest of the country. (0:17 seconds of silence) God of power and might, wisdom and justice. Through you our authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed. Assist with your spirit of counsel, and fortitude to the members of this North Carolina House of Representatives. May we always seek the way of righteousness, justice and mercy. Grant that we may be enabled by your powerful protection to lead our state with honesty and integrity. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen
May 26, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Mark Hollo. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Hollo: Peace be with you.
Response: And also with you.
Rep. Hollo: Let us pray. Heavenly Father we humbly bow our heads before you, thankful for all that you have given us. Help us on busy days to take the time to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the world around us. We ask for your mercy, and we are thankful for your grace. We lift up our prayers for the leaders in our government: President Barack Obama, Governor Beverly Perdue, Speaker Tom Tillis, and Senator Phil Berger. Be with members of the general assembly. Grant us strength, wisdom and understanding, to do the job we have before us. When decisions are difficult, may we always look to you for guidance. Be with all of the staff, guests in the gallery, and the pages. Watch over our families while we are apart. As we go into the Memorial Day weekend, we are thankful for all the men and the women in the military who have died protecting our freedom. To those families who have lost loved ones recently, and grieved, we ask that you wrap your loving arms around them, and comfort them. May they realize that they do not need to worry about tomorrow, for you are already there. We ask that you send your angels to protect our military members now in harm’s way around the world. May they
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return safely to their families. Now Lord, we thank you for our colleagues beside us, the friendship between us, and your presence among us. In Jesus Christ’s holy name I pray. Amen.
June 3, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. John Blust. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Blust: Please bow with me. Heavenly Father, we come before you in rather difficult times with difficult decisions and challenges and we just ask for your wisdom upon this body as we grapple with these issues. So often we’re so inadequate to, to address them and we, we ask for your strength, your wisdom and your knowledge. We pray for our people as many of them struggle with difficult economic times. We ask that you’ll strengthen them and be with them and we particularly Father pray that you keep those who are overseas fighting for our freedom in harm’s way that you’ll shield them and protect them and give a wall of safety to them. We just again ask you for your blessings upon this proceeding. In Jesus’ name, amen.
June 4, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer with be offered by Rep. Ruth Samuelson. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Ruth Samuelson: Please bow with me. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us all rejoice and be glad in it. Lord, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight oh Lord for you are our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
June 6, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer tonight will be offered by Rep. John Torbett. Members and visitors in the gallery will please stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
John Torbett: Ladies and gentlemen, members of the gallery, members of the House, sixty‐seven years ago, a lot of brave Americans sent forth on Operation OverLord, known in this country more as D‐Day. If it had not been for them, I would, I would hate to think where we might be on this very evening. Will you pray with me. Heavenly Father, thank you for the lives of those brave boys that gave all in service to this great country so many years ago on the beaches of Normandy so that this country and others would remain free. Lord, please continue to grant us your blessings so we may continue the ongoing work of ensuring freedom just as those did that came before us. Men and women, that with your blessing, forged a country based on freedom of religion without the fear of persecution. Men and women, that in the face of insurmountable odds, never wavered in their faith and trust in you.
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Grant us this same blessing, that we may be able to continue your work. Allow us to look back to past generations so we may understand the suffering and hardships of so many Americans that with, and only with, your loving guidance, were able to endure. Most gracious Heavenly Father, we pray for the souls of our fallen heroes, those who gave their last full measure of devotion to this great country. I pray that you will never let us, our children or our grandchildren forget the sacrifices of those men and women in such places as Guilford Courthouse, Bentonville, Belleau Wood, the beaches of Normandy, Inchon, the Mekong Delta, Basrah, Helmand Province and Fallujah. Heavenly Father, although the guns of war once again resonate on foreign soil, let us remember the words of one of our fallen leaders. With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as you give us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in. Heavenly Father, there are battles to be won on our home shores, battles that daily tear at the tightly woven fabric of freedom. We only pray that you will guide us to victory in these battles. Heavenly Father, we pray that you would cleanse our hearts of the apathy that is dissolving the moral fiber of this great land. In a time when we more often think of ourselves more than others, please open our eyes and our hearts to those less fortunate. We pray that you would replace the thirst for material worth with a thirst for service and honest respect of our families and fellow man. We pray for our elected officials they may be strong in faith and leadership. Let us always be mindful that in every battle or debate, the importance lies not as to whose side you are on but rather we, together, are on your side. We pray that you would guide us in our daily duties and pray you protect us as we strive to strengthen this country again to that place where on the breaths of all Americans we might once again hear duty, honor, country. Most gracious Heavenly Father, last we pray that this country will never forsake the truth that in you we trust. God, please continue to bless America. I pray this in the name of the God I follow. In Jesus’ name, amen.
June 7, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer today will be offered by Rep. Rosa Gill. Members in the gallery will please stand and remain standing as Rep. Gill leads us in our pledge of allegiance. Rep. Gill.
Rosa Gill: Thank you. Today I want to start by telling you a prayer, ah, a story about praying and it’s something like this. A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small desert‐like island. The two survivors, not knowing what to do, agreed that they had no recourse but to pray to God; however, to find out whose prayer was most powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing the first – the first thing the first man prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit‐bearing tree on his side of the land and he was able to eat it. The other man’s parcel was remain barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, a ship was wrecked and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the
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island, there was nothing. Soon, the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship so that his wife and he could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven. “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?” “My blessings are mine alone, since I was the only one who prayed for them,” said the first man. “His prayer, his prayer were unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.” “You’re mistaken,” the voice spoke, said. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings. “Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”“He prayed that all prayers be answered.” For all we know, our blessings are not the fruit of our prayers alone but those of another praying for us. In closing, I’ll ask you to make someone happy by the way you live. Make some heart more steady through the help, the help you give. Strengthen other feet to travel on life’s (pilgrim) way. Comfort other hearts in sorrow by the words you say through the gladness shed around you yours will be gained for the light for the other given is not lived in vain. Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.
June 8, 2011
Presiding Officer – The prayer will be offered by Rep. Leo Daughtry. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Daughtry – The Lord be with you. (From the audience, a murmur of, And also with you.) Let us pray. We give thanks and praise to a loving God who has blessed our lives. He has blessed this state and he has blessed this nation. Oh Lord, it has turned off hot these last, these past few days and we are plowing through a large number of bills prior to crossover. Help us to keep our egos in check, remembering that this great state has survived for over two hundred years without the passage of all these bills and with your help, it will continue to survive. We further trust that you will eventually lead us to a place where we don’t seek the blessings from those who cannot give them and where we don’t confuse what we want with what you want and finally Lord, fill us with compassion, with service to others, non‐judgmental and with your grace to every creature great and small. Amen
June 9, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Garland Pierce. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Pierce – Bow your heads with me, please. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that’s within me bless his holy name. Hear my prayer, oh Lord, and let my cry come unto thee. Our Father and our God, we thank thee for yet another day. Thank you for your fresh mercies and your loving kindness. Where should you be with us today as we continue to do the business of the great state of North Carolina for the good of
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your people and oh God, let us be mindful of your word that reminds us in as much as you have done it unto the one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it also unto me. Oh God, bless us in, in this day, continue to keep your arms wrapped around us as we travel near and far for it is in your name we pray, Amen.
June 14, 2011
Presiding Officer: The House will come to order. Members will take their seats. Visitors will retire from the Chamber. The Sergeant at Arms will close the doors. The Prayer will be offered by Rep. Rick Glazier. Visitors in the Gallery, please stand and remain standing.
Rep. Glazier: Thank you Mr. Speaker and members, this is a prayer for the children by Ina Hughs, and read at the Unicef World Summit: We pray for the children who sneak Popsicles before supper, who erase holes in math workbooks, who can never find their shoes. And we pray for those who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, who never counted potatoes, who were born in places we wouldn't and couldn't be caught dead, who never go to the circus, and who live in an X‐rated world. We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions, and who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money. And we pray for those children who never get a dessert, who never have a safe blanket to drag behind them, who watch their parents watch them die, who can't find bread to steal, and don't have rooms to clean up, and whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser, whose monsters are very real. And we pray for children who spend all their allowance before Tuesday, who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food, who like ghost stories, and shove dirty clothes under their bed, who never rinse out the tub, who get visits from the tooth fairy, and don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool, and who squirm in church and scream in the phone, whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry. And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime, who will eat anything, who have never seen a dentist, who aren't spoiled by anybody, who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep, who live and move, but have no being. We pray for children who want to be carried and for those who must, who we never give up on and for those who don't get a second chance. And finally we pray for those we smother with love and for those who will grab the hand of anyone kind enough to offer it. And we all say, "Amen".
June 15, 2011
Presiding Officer: Members will take their seats. Visitors will retire from the Chambers. The Sergeant at Arms will close the doors. House will come to order. Prayer shall be offered by Representative Phil Shepard.
Rep. Shepard: Let us pray. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing of being born in this great nation, this state. We thank you for the blessings that you give us each and every day, when we don't deserve
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those. We pray a special prayer tonight for our leaders in the White House, down to our local communities, for each and every one in this general assembly in this state. We pray Lord that you will lead, guide and direct us in all of our decisions and all that we say and do. We pray that we will be Christ like, even in our differences, that we would respect one another, and show dignity in the process. I wanna pray a special prayer tonight for Representative Warren's daughter, Representative Sager's wife, and Representative Brown's wife, and Reprentative Mobley's mother, and of course, Representative Wilkins. We pray for speedy recovery, and for health, and for healing in their lives, and we pray that you'll give them the grace that is needed at this time and their families for all that they are experiencing. We pray Lord that tonight, all that is said and done more than anything else will bring honor and glory to you. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
June 16, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Grey Mills. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Mills: Everyone, please join me in prayer. Heavenly Father, we come today before you to ask for forgiveness, to seek your direction, and to thank you for our freedom. We beg you to bless and enlighten the leaders of our state and our nation. Guide us here today to be honest in all our actions, for only through you do we have the capability to make this a great state with the knowledge and wisdom you have given us. As we make decisions today, may we turn to you for those decisions. You said that you would never leave us, I pray that we never leave you. I pray this prayer in your holy name, Amen.
June 18, 2011 Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Bert Jones. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand. Rep. Jones: Ladies and gentlemen of the house, visitors in the gallery, this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Will you pray with me? Our Father and our God, today on the final day of this long portion of the general session of the North Carolina General Assembly, we once again come before your throne of grace, acknowledging that you are God, our creator and giver of life, with that life being eternal. We offer special prayers of intercession on behalf of those we represent, as did many Godly leaders referenced in your word. We are indeed thankful for so many of your people that often pray for us and the work that we do. Father, we also pray that you would give us wisdom from above, wisdom that comes only from you. Grant us courage to stand strong against that which is evil and for that which is good. Give us the desire to know and understand your word that we might know the difference. And, Father, today as we go our separate ways for a while, I pray for your protection of each of these representatives and a special blessing upon their families that sacrifice to allow them to serve. I pray not only for
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your physical protection but guard our spirits, guard our hearts, and guard our actions. Our work has included much spirited debate. We pray, Father, that no hearts would leave here bitter. We pray that you would guard us from ascribing motives to others. We pray that you would guard our tongues from slander. We pray that as we fellowship in our own communities, we would be a source of encouragement to others, and not a source of fear. Help us, oh God, to understand the temporary nature of the things of this world, that we may truly set our hearts and minds on those things above. Give us an eternal perspective. Help us remember that each of us is accountable to you. We pray that each one here might one day hear those words from you: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Until that day, let us strive to serve you and do all things for your honor and glory. Help us to finish well today, and please bring each one here back safely that we might meet again soon at the appointed time. Each one here offers their prayers in their own way. I offer mine in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
July 13, 2011 Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Ruth Samuelson. Members and visitors in the gallery please stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Rep. Samuelson: If you would, please bow with me. Lord, our business today may be just a formality, complying with the law. However, your love and care for us is never just a formality, and no law compels you to show up at noon on July 13th to hear our prayer. You are here because you love us and care about the details of our lives: the meetings, the calls, even the food we’ll eat for lunch. Help us to see your love for us today, to receive your complete forgiveness when we fall short, which we will certainly do, and to delight in your many blessings. Thank you, gracious Father. Amen.
July 14, 2011
Unidentified : The Lord be with you. (audience: and also with you) Let us pray. God you have touched us all with a divine spark of life. That spark binds us together as brothers and sisters. As brothers and sisters often weren’t getting along very well right now. We pray for your guidance we pray for our national leaders we pray for our state leaders. We pray for each other whether we are here today or again away. And we ask as we fulfill our duties today that our words deeds and actions would be acceptable in your sight. Oh God, our strength and our redeemer. Amen
July 27, 2011
Rep. Michael H. Wray: Let us pray. Gracious God, we come thanking today for all of the blessings and privileges you’ve given each of us to serve you by serving your people. We thank you countless blessings poured out upon the people of this great state and nation. We pray that your presence will be before us and everyone and
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serves the decision making process in our state. We pray for direction which will lead our state to be strong and faithful. May we be granted to stay decisions which [inaudible] everyone. We ask your blessings upon legislators, leaders of this great state and leaders of this great nation. When you are given the charge to govern your people in pursue it to justice liberty and quality for all. Bless this session and in the midst of the many challenges our state today faces today. May your spirit grant wisdom and guide every decision made in this place help us move beyond our differences and party lines to the place where we can agree to differ, resolve to love and unite to serve in your name we do pray and give thanks. Amen
Sept. 13, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Deborah Ross. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep. Ross: Colleagues and guests, this is another wonderful prayer given to us by Mary Lynn Finlander, my former constituent who gave me that wonderful book of prayers when I was elected for the first time. Let us pray. God of yesterday, today and tomorrow, so much has happened to us during these whirlwind days since we last gathered here. We’ve known death and birth. We’ve been hurt and we’ve hurt others. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve been scared and we’ve been brave. We’ve been lonely and we’ve known deep communion. We’ve made resolutions and already broken them. Oh God, we are so human. We are so frail. Still, we are little lower than angels and we have this time of beginnings. A new session, another day, a second, third, fifteenth chance to bring hope and love where there is despair and anger, to do our duty a little more, to wrestle with the utter mystery of questions without answers, pain without surcease, fears that hound our days and haunt our sleep and to walk with grace and hope and trust into the future. We are not alone, thanks be to God. Amen.
September 14, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. Phil Shepard. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Phil Shepard: Let us pray. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you, um, for the rising of the sun, the promise of a new day in which we may serve you. We pray that you would grant your dear hand upon us and order our steps that we would honor and please you in all that we do. We pray for your wisdom and discernment, that every decision that we will make today will be centered on your will. Keep us from presumption. Make us kind and sensitive to all those whom we shall meet and whom we shall serve. All this we ask in the precious name of Christ, Amen.
November 7, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Rep. John Torbitt. Members and guests in the gallery please stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
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Rep. Torbitt: (Words about Sen. Jim Forrester) I respectfully ask that this house of the people of North Carolina now hold a moment of silence and reflection and remember Sen. Jim Forrester, his family and those nearest to all of us that have gone to their eternal reward. God, please continue to bless our families, each of us, the people of our great state and our beloved country. I pray in your son’s name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
November 28, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Chad Barefoot, member of the House Majority Leadership Staff. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Mr. Barefoot: Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you for the opportunity that you have given us to govern ourselves. Lord, we bow humbly before you today to recognize your authority over us, and our institutions. We are eternally thankful for the sovereign hand that guides us each day. Lord, I want to pray specifically for the Representatives and their families. I pray that you give the members wisdom, as they govern our state, and that you bless the time that they spend with their families during the coming months, and that you make it fruitful and glorifying to you. Lord, we thank you for the freedom that you’ve given us in your son, Jesus Christ, and it is in his name that we offer this prayer, Amen.
November 29, 2011
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Larry Pittman. Members and visitors in the gallery, please stand.
Rep.Pittman: Let us pray. Great God, our Father, we thank you for the privilege and the blessing of living in this land, where we’re free to serve and worship you as we feel lead. We thank you for those who defend that right. Many have sacrificed their very lives for it, and our hearts go out to the families of those who have given their lives and devotion to our people. We pray, Father, for those in foreign lands defending the cause of freedom, today. We ask that you’d bless them with wisdom, protection, and victory. Lord, we pray that in our time there will be a spread of peace rather than war. Lord, as we gather here today, though we may not always realize it about one another, sometimes we have our doubts; we believe that in our hearts we all want to do the right thing, the best thing for the people. So, Lord, we pray you give us wisdom this day, to do just that. Help us, oh Lord, to be devoted to what is right in your sight. We don’t always know what that is, so we need your spirit to guide us, to find it out, and to stand for it and do it. We pray that you’d help us to do that today, oh God, and bless the families of each member here and help us all, oh God, to be truly united in you, as the free people you’ve allowed us to be, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
January 4, 2012
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Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Deborah Ross. Members and visitors in the gallery please stand, and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
Rep. Ross: Colleagues, here’s another prayer from my constituent Mary Lynn Finlander, who does such a beautiful job composing them, now for us. Oh God, of all seasons and senses grant us your sense of timing to rejoice in the turn of the seasons and in this New Year. Help us to make beginnings for ourselves, to dare to risk that we may make peace, to question the unquestionable that we may know the truth, to love that we may experience joy. Help us to be a beginning for others, through this legislative body, through other ways and through ways that are open to us, to befriend the friendless and forgotten, to comfort the sorrowing, to champion the oppressed, to be a source of hope and beauty for the forlorn, the soured, the angry, the broken. Help us to make a beginning, to be a beginning, so that we may not grow old, but we will grow new each day in this wild amazing life. Amen.
January 5, 2012
Presiding Officer: The prayer will be offered by Representative Bert Jones. Members and visitors in the gallery please stand, and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
Rep. Jones: Let us pray. Our Father and our God, once more we come before you this evening seeking your wisdom and your grace. Father, we’re thankful for the opportunity that we have to live in a free country where we can be duly elected by the citizens to serve. Father, we thank you that we have the opportunity that we gather freely and without fear. Father, we pray for our nation. We ask that you would guide and direct us in all that we do. We pray that you be with those in this body who could not be here this evening because of sickness or duress. Father, we particularly think of Representative Womble. Father, we just pray for his healing to be complete. Father, we pray for his family. Now Father, we ask that you guide and direct us as we continue the business before us. Father, as each member will be returning we pray for safety in travel and that you would bring us back again together at the appointed time. Father, each one praying in his own way, I offer my prayer in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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