Prayers for Meetings

I spent the weekend in CT where, yes, there was a snowstorm. I was there for the annual Board of Trustees meeting of the Franciscan Family Apostolate - an organization that my family has been involved with since it's beginning in the early 1970's.

I noticed on Saturday morning that the Agenda that the President had given me noted that I would open the meeting with a few remarks and a prayer. Hmmm. The meeting was only a few hours away. I make absolutely no claims to know much in the realm of official/organized prayer. The act of praying is more of a contemplative personal experience for me.....

So, what does one do in such circumstances? Why Google, of course. I entered something like "prayer for opening board meeting" and sure enough I was greeted with several options to surf. I wound up on a site of the Benedictine Health System. This actually is an organization that runs long term and compassionate care facilities in seven states in the upper midwest.

Why exactly they had prayers for meetings on their site, I don't really know. However, I found their suggestion for a Board Meeting to be quite appropriate for how I visualized starting a meeting. Here is what they suggested:

Almighty God, Ruler of the Universe,
   by Your power we move and have our being.
We are gathered here today to serve You
   and conduct the affairs of (name the facility).
Give us knowledge and strength to do Your will,
   with a proper balance of eternal values and our present needs.
May we accept our responsibilities and act with courage,
   considering the feelings of other people.
Grant us a sense of justice and stewardship both now and forever.
AMEN.

Not bad! The website actually has a whole selection of prayers for various meetings and other special occasions. So, if you are ever searching for just the right words (or a thought that you can customize to meet your needs), check them out. 

By the way, it was a good start. We had a great meeting and the power didn't go off until we had finished!