Prayer for Inauguration of Governor Hogan

Heavenly Father, source of all life, freedom, and authority,
we come before you in solemn prayer on this inauguration day
of Lawrence J. Hogan, the 62nd Governor of the State of Maryland,
and Boyd Rutherford as the Lieutenant Governor.
We thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed upon our state,
from its shores, to its mountains, to its farms, towns and cities.
We ask that you continue to watch over this Free State – its citizens and its leaders –
now and for many years to come.
In your goodness, bless Governor Martin J. O’Malley as he completes his term of office
and accompany him with your grace in the years ahead.
In a special way we ask you to pour forth your blessings
upon Governor Hogan and Lieutenant Governor Rutherford,
as well as their wives and families,
as they begins their special service to the State of Maryland.
Bless them with wisdom, courage, and love as they takes the prescribed oath
and accepts the heavy responsibilities of our State’s highest offices.
Keep them always faithful to their solemn pledge and enable them in your love
to bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland and its Constitution
by seeking the common good of all Maryland’s citizens
and by joining hands with all our fellow citizens in the ongoing work of building a state
that seeks to be a place of freedom, justice, and compassion for those most in need,
especially for the poor, the marginalized, and the unemployed,
a state that cherishes and uses wisely the resources with which you have endowed our land.
May Maryland, founded as a beacon of religious liberty and toleration,
continue to uphold this most cherished freedom
by welcoming in the public square faith and the values that flow from faith.
Show us the path, Lord, to be builders of relationships in our state and its communities,
so that we may bring forth harmony from our diversity,
Bless our Governor as he seeks to create cooperation
among government, business, service, and faith community, so that together,
we may create opportunity for all our fellow citizens, especially our young people,
to fulfill their God-given potential in loving homes and families and effective schools.
Lead us, Lord, in finding ways to build trust in communities, to curb violence,
and to protect the homeless, the destitute, the infirm, and the elderly.
Give our new governor, our legislators, and all those in government service
an ever greater measure of understanding
as they address the difficult problems that are facing us all.
Most of all, Lord, give us joy and give us hope
that we may be preserved in union and in that peace the world cannot give;
and after enjoying the blessings of this life,
be admitted to those which are eternal.
We make this prayer in Thy Holy Name. Amen.