Last week's presidential inauguration was boldly marked by frequent references to faith and Scripture, and numerous prayers by some of our nation's most beloved clergy. Prayers were offered by Rev. Luis Leon, Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.; Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, Pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church and Rev. Billy Graham, evangelist and Founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

A New Beginning in Our Journey as a People and a Nation—An invocation prayer

Rev. Dr. Luis Léon, Rector, St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.

Let us pray.
Most gracious and eternal God, we gather here today as a grateful people who enjoy the many blessings you have bestowed on this nation. We are grateful for your vision, which inspired the founders of our nation to create this democratic experiment as one nation, under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

We are grateful to you that you have brought to these shores a multitude of peoples of many ethnic, religious and language backgrounds and yet have fashioned one nation out of so many cultures and traditions.

Even as we celebrate our -- this great moment, we remember before you the members of our Armed Forces. We commend them to your care. Give them courage to carry out their duties and courage the face the perils which we set them, and grant them always the sense of your presence in all that they do.

Finally today, we are especially grateful for this inauguration, which marks a new beginning in our journey as a people and a nation. We pray that you will shower the elected leaders of this land and especially, George, our president, and Richard, our vice president, with your life giving spirit.

Fill them with a love of truth and righteousness that they may serve you and this nation ably and glad to do your will. Endow their hearts with your spirit of wisdom that they may lead us in renewing the ties of mutual respect which form our civic life, so that peace may prevail with righteousness and justice with order.

We pray that you will strengthen their resolve as they lead our nation seeking to serve you in this world, that this good and generous country may be a blessing to the nations of the world.

And may they lead us to become, in the words of Martin Luther King, members of a beloved community, loving our neighbors as ourselves so that all of us may more closely come to fulfill the promise of our Founding Fathers, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All this we ask in your most holy name, Amen.

* * *

I Declare Your Blessings to Shower Upon Our President

Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, Pastor, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, in Houston, Texas

Let us pray, please. Oh, Lord, God almighty, the supply and supplier of faith and freedom, how excellent is your name in all the Earth. You are great and greatly to be praised. Oh, God, as we conclude this 55th inaugural ceremony, we conclude it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Thank you for protecting America's borders. After all, as the psalmist reminds us, "Unless you, O, God, guard the territory, our efforts will be in vain." Thank you for our armed service personnel. And it is with unswerving thanksgiving that we pause to remember the persons who have made the ultimate sacrifice to help ensure America's safety.

Thank you, oh, God, for surrounding our personnel, their families, their friends and our allies with your favor and your faithfulness. Deplore your host from heaven so that your will for America will be performed on Earth as it is already perfected in heaven.

I confess that your face will shine upon the United States of America, granting us social peace and economic prosperity, particularly for the weary and the poor. I also confess, oh, God, that each American's latter days will be better than their former days. Let it be unto us, according to your word.

Rally the Republicans, the Democrats, and the Independents around your common good so that America will truly become one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, justice and equal opportunity for all, including the least, the last, and the lost. Bless every elected official right now.

Oh, God, I declare your blessings to shower upon our president, George W. Bush. Bless him, his family, and his administration. I once again declare that no weapon formed against them shall prosper.

And God, forgive us, forgive us. Forgive us for becoming so ensnarled in petty partisan politics that we miss your glory and flunk our purpose.

Deliver us from the evil one, from evil itself, and from the mere appearance of evil. Give us clean hearts so that we might have clean agendas, clean priorities and programs, and even clean financial statements.

And now, unto you, oh, God, the one who always has been, and always will be, the one king of kings, and the true power broker we glorify and honor you. Respecting persons of all faiths I humbly submit this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

* * *

Prayer at National Prayer Service, National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
Rev. Billy Graham, Evangelist

Our Father and our God, we thank You that the last event of this historic week is a time of worship—a time to hear Your Word, to pray and to declare our dependence on You.

In the quietness and calmness of this great cathedral, turn us away from everything that would distract us and help us to focus on our need of You. We remember that it is written in the Scriptures, "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1).

Our Father, we acknowledge Your divine help in the selection of our nation's leaders throughout our history and we believe that in Your providence You have granted a second term of office to our President, George W. Bush, and our Vice President, Richard Cheney. Their next four years are hidden from us-but they are not hidden from You. You know the challenges and opportunities they will face. Give them a clear mind and a warm heart, calmness in the midst of turmoil, reassurance in times of discouragement, and Your presence always.

We pray for their families and we ask for Your protection and care for them during the pressures of these next four years.

Renew our vision, restore our faith and rekindle our desire to love and to serve all humanity. May we never forget that one day we each will stand before You to give an account of what You have entrusted to us.

Finally, our Father, we pray for our nation and our world. We thank You for those who have sacrificed their lives to give us our freedom, and we pray for those who continue to serve our nation in places of great conflict and danger. Above all, we join today with millions of others across this torn and confused world in praying for peace.

Thank you for the overwhelming compassion that our leadership and our country have shown toward the suffering in Southeast Asia.

And now may this service become a time of commitment for each one of us, as we rededicate ourselves to You and Your will for our lives.

We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.