My Turn for the Invocation

After the roll call, at the beginning of each legislative session, the next “order of business” is the Invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. During regular session, ordained clergy people from the community, and by a rotation of denomination, give the Invocation. They are paid a small honorarium. When a clergy person is unavailable, the Speaker of the House, appoints a Member of the House (on a rotating basis) to give the Invocation.

Today it was my turn. When a legislator speaks on the floor it is supposed to be spoken ad lib (Admittedly, I usually “cheat” with some notes – since I’m not “vaccinated with a phonograph needle” like some of my colleagues). The Invocation is about the only time a legislator is allowed to read, and the following Invocation is what I read.

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Our Father in Heaven, help protect and give us a measure of Thy wisdom to all legislators throughout America, and especially here in Alaska, and in this chamber. Help us to remember that “to whom much is given much is required.”

Help us to be good role models to each other, and especially to children and young adults in a world that yearns for good role models. And please help us protect the most vulnerable among us, in every precious stage of life.

We know we were freely elected to serve as Representatives of our constituents in forty diverse districts to serve to the best of our ability for a short term of office – but let us not forget that, before we filed for office, before we won election, and before we cast our first vote here in this chamber, You, Almighty Father, gave us the eternal Gift of Life, and the Gift of free will. And, with that in mind, help us to avoid any conflict of interest between Your Commandments and our political actions.

Please help us not to be too critical or too judgmental of those with whom we disagree. Help us to disagree, without being disagreeable – because only You, Father, have the whole truth of anything. At the same time, let us not lose our Anchor of Faith, or ignore Thy moral compass in some misguided effort to curry political favor, or to go along to get along, or to be all things to all people.

Help us to cast every vote in this House of Representatives in the good conscience Thou hast given us. Help us to vote in accordance with what is right and good in the sight of You, Almighty God.

Help us to understand it is our job here on earth to support worthy causes, and cast worth votes whatever the issue, whatever the political pressure, or whatever any personal political advantage. Help us to remember that, however we vote, it is you, our Father in Heaven, who is responsible for the results, whatever they may be.

Father, protect our nation and the State of Alaska. Protect our brave women and men in the armed forces, all of us here today, and our loved ones. All this, and much much more, we ask in the Name of the personal God we call, in faith, to be our own. Amen.







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