8 Interfaith Prayers, Selected and Adapted by the March 2008 Ordinands
From the Pagan Tradition:
“I send out words in praise of the Goddess,
from whom all worlds flow.
Mystery of mysteries, this continual creation,
like a fountain forever bubbling up from the Earth's darkness,
She is a cup that is never empty.”
(Adapted from a prayer by Ceisiwr Serith in
A Book of Pagan Prayer—In Praise of the Goddess, 2002)
From the Hindu Tradition:
“As from a blazing fire,
sparks essentially akin to it fly forth by the thousand,
so also, my good friend, do various beings
come forth from the imperishable Brahman
and unto Him again return.
The wind is His breath; the universe His heart.
He is, indeed, the inner Self of all beings.”
(Mundaka Upanishad, Second Mundaka 1, Verses 1 and 4)
From the Buddhist Tradition:
“May I become at all times,
Both now and forever,
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.”
(His Holiness the Dalai Lama)
From the Native American Tradition:
“Greetings and thanks to each other as people.
to the earth, mother of all greetings and thanks.
and from the four directions, the four winds.
thank you for purifying the air we breathe and giving us strength.
and now the sun, for the light of a new day.
and the stars for their mystery, beauty and guidance.
to our teachers from all times,
reminding us of how to live in harmony.
and for all the gifts of creation. for all the love around us.
and for that which is forgotten, we remember.
we end our words. now our minds are one.”
(Abbreviated version of A Daily Thanksgiving Prayer,
The Onondaga Nation of Ontario and Quebec)
From the Jewish Tradition:
“Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the universe,
Who has kept us in life,
sustained us,
and brought us to this moment.”
(The Shehecheyanu)
From the Christian Tradition:
“Eternal God,
to you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Enrich our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
that we may more perfectly love you,
as we joyfully magnify your holy name. Amen.”
(The Holy Eucharist in Contemporary English,
a Eucharistic Prayer adapted by Dr. John Mabry
from an Episcopal liturgy)
From the Islamic Tradition:
“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment.
You do we worship, and Your aid do we seek.
Show us the straight way;
The way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace,
Those whose portion is not wrath,
and who do not go astray.”
(The Qur'an, The First Surah - “The Opening”)
From New Thought Tradition:
“Give thanks for the blessing of God.
I bless everyone around me.
I bless myself and others,
for we are all partakers of the same Divine Nature,
all living in One Mind,
all animated by the same Presence,
all sustained by the One Power.
In joy and in love my blessing rests on everything.”
(Adapted from 365 Days of Richer Living, Science of Mind Publications, 1973)