Plenary,

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 10, 2000

Official Report 378KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

We welcome to lead our time for reflection today the Right Reverend John A Mone, Bishop of Paisley.

Thank you, Presiding Officer, for inviting me to lead the Parliament in this prayer and time for reflection.

I want to share one or two of my favourite prayers with members. The first is for all who love the poor and all who love peace. It is the prayer of St Francis of Assisi.

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;
where there is sadness, joy.

O 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;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

The short prayer that I now wish to say is the prayer of the Alcoholics Anonymous, which is said every day and which I say because I find great strength in it in my leadership role. It is called "Serenity".

God grant me the
Serenity to accept the things
I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.

The final prayer that I want to say was written by my sister, who is terminally ill. She wrote the prayer through a possum machine. It is called "Grace Before Meals".

Lord God
We welcome you
To our table.
We invite you
To be present
In all circumstances
Of our lives
With your power and goodness.
May we eat and drink
And live
With simplicity
And without extravagance
So that our sisters
And brothers
Less fortunate than ourselves
May eat and drink and live
With dignity.
May all who share
The meal
Rise in justice
To wash the dishes
And clear up the kitchen.

God bless you and your work.