Allen County Democrats Annual Dinner's Interfaith Opening Invocation

​Honored to share the stage with Rev. John P. Gardner of Plymouth Congregational Church and deliver tonight's Allen County Democrats dinner's opening invocation.


John P. --
O God of all ages, Creator of heaven and earth,
of all we see and worlds we have yet to discover;

Ahmed –
O God of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar; of Moses and Miriam,
Mary and Jesus; of Mohammed the Prophet: you are the most
bounteous and most merciful; all praise and thanks are due to
You, the most merciful and wise.​
​
John P. --
We thank you for this evening’s gathering; for those who have
planned the program, for those who have prepared the food,
and who serve at table; you nourish our bodies, no less than our
dreams and visions, and we are grateful.

Ahmed –
We thank you for those in our midst running for state and national
office; keep them strong in the face of adversity, and humble with
any measure of accomplishment; give them stamina during the day,
rest at night; grant them wisdom and courage to lead and guide in this contentious age.

John P. --
Working together may we fashion a future worthy of our children: 
where young and old are secure; where the racial divides of the past
are overcome; where water is drinkable and the rivers swimmable;
and the air is fit to breath and harness for energy; where no child
designed as different is diminished or denied their dignity.

Ahmed –
Waken us to the urgency of the hour; open our eyes to see right
and follow it; working together may we boldly advance a better day
for our city and state and nation, that all Hoosiers, regardless of
class or creed or color, may attain the blessings of liberty and peace.

John P. –
We pray in the name of all that is beautiful and excellent and true.

Ahmed - 
We pray in the name of all that is merciful, just, and kind.

John P. and Ahmed --
​Amen.