Of inaugural prayer, Christians and Jesus' name

The VIP pew listens to a children's choir at the National Prayer Service (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

This morning's portion of the inaugural festivities included the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral:

The newly-inaugurated President and Vice President of the United States will join with dignitaries and Americans of diverse faiths to celebrate the previous day's events through prayer, readings, and musical performances. Reverend Dr. Sharon Watkins will be the first woman to deliver the sermon at this traditional Inaugural event. This event is by invitation only, which is handled by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Here's background on: this morning's service, its participants and the sources of the texts prayed - and here's a snip from that report:

Canon Carol Wade, who as the cathedral's precentor oversees music and worship, said that in accordance with tradition, today's prayers were based on the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and sound similar to prayers given at services after the inaugurations of both Bush presidents and Ronald Reagan.
...

"We felt it was time to take a fresh look at the prayers," Wade said yesterday, noting Obama's embrace of religious liberalism. "Care was taken as to how we might respect and celebrate our diversity."

While multiple clergy who are not Christian participated in the service, Wade noted that the service was, at its core, Christian to reflect Obama's personal beliefs.

Following here is the prayer delivered by Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, DC. The text is based on the Prayer for the Nation in the Book of Common Prayer. That the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington should pray this text adds yet another twist to the ongoing debate in the comboxes here on how Christians should pray at civic events. Note how the BCP version (at the bottom of this post) and today's delivered version (immediately below) differ in their conclusion.

Prayer for the Nation
Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D.
Archbishop of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia

Almighty God,
who has entrusted us with the care of this great land:

We humbly ask that we may always prove ourselves
a people worthy of this trust and pleased to do your will.

Bless our nation
with honorable industry, sound learning, and mutual respect.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion,
from arrogance and greed, and from every evil way.

Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people
the multitudes brought from all the corners of the earth.

Bestow the spirit of wisdom
on those to whom we grant the authority of government,
that there may be justice and peace at home.

Through obedience to your law,
may we show forth your glory among the nations of the world.

In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble, strengthen our trust in you;
all this we ask in your holy Name.

Amen.

Here follows the Prayer for the Nation as it is found in its original version in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God,
who hast given us this good land for our heritage:

We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves
a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will.

Bless our land with honorable industry,
sound learning, and pure manners.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion;
from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.

Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people
the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.

Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name
we entrust the authority of government,
that there may be justice and peace at home,

and that, through obedience to thy law,
we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.

In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail;
all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.


-ConcordPastor