texas impact prayer calendar 84th session 2015

8/10/2019 Texas Impact Prayer Calendar 84th Session 2015

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I offer you peace.

I offer you love.I offer you friendship.

I see your beauty.I hear your need.

I feel your feelings.My wisdom ows

from the highest source.I salute that source in you.

Let us work together.For unity and peace.

Mahatma Gandhi


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Te 84th Texas Legislature convenes on Tuesday, January 13, 2015. During the 140-day regular legislative session, our 150 representatives and 31 senators willconsider thousands of pieces of legislation that will impact the lives of all 26 million Texans.

People of faith have a responsibility to participate in the life of the community, including engaging the political realities of their time. Tis engagement can includevoting, debating, lobbying, educating and many other avenues of civic activity.

But rst, last, and always, it includes prayer.

Te intercessions, exhortations, adulations and lamentations of people of faith are uniquely important expressions in the public square.

During the 2015 legislative session, we hope you will join with Texas Impact and people of all faiths throughout our state in praying for our elected officials, theirstaffs, their constituents, and the multitude of people, places and things that make up our collective identity as the Lone Star State.

For each day of the session, this prayer calendar includes the names of one or more lawmakers and at least one non-legislative object or concept for your prayerfulattention. We suggest you pray in your own tradition for lawmakers, their staffs, and their constituents. Looking to step outside your own prayer tradition? Eachweek well be posting suggested prayers from various traditions on our website at texasimpact.org/pray2015

Tanks for praying!


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Dear Father: Since you made us all, and we are Your children, help us to act like brothers and sisters. We are ordinary people Gathered in extraordinary circumstances To help create laws that will touch on every living creature in this great state: Lobbyists and lumbermen; oilmen and office workers;

Herefords and Santa Gertudis; Longhorns and Aggies; Highland Parkers and Dime Boxers;Lawyers, doctors, engineers, cotton pickers, road builders, migrant workers;

Corporate giants and dependent children of the unemployed; armadillos and whooping cranes.When You came into the world in person, You deliberately chose to enter through a poor family: Mary and Joseph...who had such little clout

that they could not afford advance reservations at the Bethlehem La Quinta.

When the back rooms began to ll with smoke and the lobbyist buffets bulge our waists and dull our sensitivities...And when pressure and deadlines push us to the breaking point...

Remind us that Your ultimate and resolute involvement in historyAlways came down on the side of Love, Justice and Mercy

Especially for the poor...the lame...the undocumented alien...the oppressed...those with handicapping conditions...the fatherless.And when we nd it uncomfortable to live with Your priorities, perhaps we will not so lightly invite you to be present among us.

But here we are, all set to go.

Bless the members of the Senate, the Lieutenant Governor, the Lobbyists, their secretaries, the pages, the sergeant-at-arms, the doorkeepers,and the visitors in the gallery. May the work of our minds, hands, and hearts be offered as our sacrice of love to You. In the name of Abraham,

Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Invocation by the Reverend Jack D. Heacock, First United Methodist Church, Austin, on Opening Day of the Texas Senate, January 13, 1981


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~ January 2015 ~Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13Legislative Day 1

Sen.Jose Rodriguez

Rep. Andrew S. Murr

Water

14Day 2

Christian Orthodox

Holiday: New Year

Rep. Joe C. Pickett

Places of Worship

15Day 3

Rep. Patricia Harless

Pre-Schoolers

16 Day 4

Rep.Cindy Burkett,

Construction Workers

17 Day 5

Sen. Brian Birdwell,

Ranchers

18 Day 6

Rep. Matt Krause

Scholars

19 Day 7

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Rep. John Zerwas

Religious Leaders

20 Day 8

Rep. Chris Paddle

Athletes

21 Day 9

Sen. Sylvia Garcia

Rep. John Otto

Public Parks

22 Day 10

Rep. Terry Canales

Wind Farms

23 Day 11

Rep. Rick Gallindo

Pilots

24 Day 12

Rep. Stephanie Klick

Actors

25 Day 13

Rep. Eric Johnson

Pineywoods Eco-Region

26 Day 14

Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Rep. Senfronia Thompson

Authors

27 Day 15

Rep. Joe D. Deshotel

Science Majors

28 Day 16

Rep. Scott Turner

Non-Profits

29 Day 17

Professors

30 Day 18

Sen. Kellly Hancock

Rep. Ana Hernandez

Service Industry Workers

31 Day 19

Rep. Bryan Hughes

Highways & Infrastructure


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Collect for the NationEpiscopal Book of Common Prayer

Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of ourcountry a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus

Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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~ February 2015 ~Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Day 20

Rep. Oscar Longoria

NASA

2 Day 21

Groundhog Day

Sen. Royce West

Rep. Joe Farias

Labor Unions

3Day 22

Rep. Craig Goldman

Rep. Armando Martinez

Gulf Coast Prairies &Marshes Eco-Region

4Day 23

Jewish Holiday:Tu BShevat

Rosa Parks Day

Rep. Tony Tinderholt

Natural Resources

5Day 24

Rep. Geanie Morrison

Palo Duro Canyon StatePark

6Day 25

Sen. Robert Nichols

Rep. Richard !enaRaymond

Rain

7Day 26

Rep. Linda Koop

Kindergarteners

8 Day 27

Rep. Joseph E. Moody

Artists

9 Day 28

Rep. Eddie Lucio, III

Engineers

10 Day 29

Sen. Chuy Hinojosa

Rep. Jonathan Strickland

Festivals

11 Day 30

Rep. Roberto Alonzo

Rep. Eddie Rodriguez

Science

12 Day 31

Rep. Bobby Guerra

Research & Development

13 Day 32

Rep. Byron Cook

Creativity

14 Day 33

Valentines Day

Sen. Van Taylor

Rep. J.M. Lozano

Friends

15 Day 34

Rep. Morgan Meyer

Newlyweds

16 Day 35

Presidents Day

Rep. Ed Thompson

Mayors

17 Day 36

Rep. Joe Straus

City Commissioners

18 Day 37

Christian Holiday:

Ash Wednesday

Sen. Rodney Ellis

Rep. Allen Fletcher

Family

19 Day 38

Rep. Donna Howard

South Texas Brush CountryEco-Region

20 Day 39

Rep. Dawanna Dukes

School Principals

21 Day 40

Rep. Doug Miller

Firefighters

22 Day 41

Sen. Larry Taylor

Rep. Jodie Laubenberg

Renewable Electricity

23 Day 42

Rep. Lyle Larson

City Planners

24 Day 43

Rep. Giovanni Capriglione

Rolling Plans Eco-Region

25 Day 44

Rep. Matt Shaheen

Police Officers

26 Day 45

Sen. Konni Burton

Rep. Elliot Nashitat

Padre Island National

Seashore

27 Day 46

Rep. John Smithee

Animal Shelters

28 Day 47

Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr.

Schools

Sen. Craig Estes


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Prayer for Times of Conict

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

God, our refuge and strength, you have bound

us together in a common life. In all our con

icts,help us to confront one another without hatred orbitterness, to listen for your voice amid competingclaims, and to work together with mutualforbearance and respect.

O God, where hearts are fearful and constricted,grant courage and hope. Where anxiety isinfectious and widening, grant peace andreassurance. Where impossibilities close every door

and window, grant imagination and resistance.

Where distrust twists our thinking, grant healingand illumination. Where spirits are daunted andweakened, grant soaring wings and strengtheneddreams.

All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ,our Savior and Lord.

Amen.


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~ March 2015 ~ Apr 201

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Day 4

Rep. Abel Herrero

Public Transit Workers

2 Day

Texas Independence Day

Sen. Bob Hall

Rep. Jim Murphy

History Teachers

3 Day 5

Rep. Mary E. Gonzalez

Enchanted Rock StateNatural Area

4 Day 5

Jewish Holiday:Taanit Esther

Rep. Matt Rinaldi

Teachers

5 Day 5

Rep. Jeff Leach

College Students

6 Day 5

Jewish Holiday:Shashan Purim

Sen. John Whitmire

Rep. Dan Huberty

Libraries

7 Day 5

Rep. Rolando Gutierrez

Math Teachers

8 Day 5

Rep. David Simpson

Coastal Sands Eco-Region

9 Day 5

Rep. Matt Schaefer

Historic Landmarks

10 Day 5

Sen. Kirk Watson

Rep. Kyle Kacal

High Schoolers

11Day 5

Rep. Boris Miles

Non-rofit Employees

12 Day

Rep. Tan Parker

Oak Woods & Prairies

Eco-Region

13 Day 6

Rep. Alma Allen

Colleges & Universities

14 Day 6

Sen. Carlos Uresti

Rep. Four Price

Safe Houses & Shelters

15 Day 6

Rep. Rodney Anderson

Poets

16Day 6

Rep. Tom Craddick

Disaster Response Teams

17 Day 6

St. Patricks Day

Rep. Jason Villalba

Traditions

18Day 6

Sen. Charles Perry

Rep. Jessica Farrar

Volunteers

19Day 6

Rep. Scott Sanford

Trans Pecos Eco-Region

20 Day 6

Rep. J.D. Sheffield

Beaches & the Gulf of

Mexico

21 Day 6

Rep. Wayne Smith

22 Day

Sen. Joan Huffman

Rep. James White

Doctors

23Day 7

Rep. Hubert Vo

Coaches

24 Day 7

Rep. Larry Gonzales

Innovation & Technology

25Day 7

Rep. Sylvester Turner

Rep. Paul Workman

Advocates

26Day 7

Sen. Donna Campbell

Rep. Susan King

Journalists

27 Day 7

Rep. Dade Phelan

Local Government

28 Day 7

Rep. James Frank

Armed Forces

29 Day 7

Christian Holiday:

Sunday

Rep. John Wray

Public Transportation

30Day 7

Sen. Judith Zaffirini

Rep. Rick Miller

Mental Health Workers

31 Day 7

Rep. Dennis Paul

Little Leaguers

Notes:

Sen. Jos Menndez


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Oh Allah! I seek Your guidance by virtue ofYour knowledge, and I seek ability by virtueof Your power, and I ask You of Your greatbounty. You have power; I have none. AndYou know; I know not. You are the Knowerof hidden things.

Oh Allah! If in Your knowledge, (thismatter*) is good for my religion, mylivelihood and my affairs, immediate andin the future, then ordain it for me, makeit easy for me, and bless it for me. And if inYour knowledge, (this matter*) is bad formy religion, my livelihood and my affairs,immediate and in the future, then turn itaway from me, and turn me away from it.And ordain for me the good wherever itmay be, and make me content with it.


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A Prayer for Texas

Based on a 1927 prayer by Rabbi Dr. Louis Ginzberg

Our God and God of our ancestors:

Accept with mercy our prayer for our state and itsgovernment. Pour out your blessing on this state, on itsleaders, judges, officers and officials, who work faithfully forthe public good. Teach them from the laws of Your Torah,enlighten them with the rules of Your justice, so that peace,

tranquillity, happiness and freedom will never depart fromour state.

God of all that lives, please bestow Your spirit on all theinhabitants of our state, and plant love, fellowship, peaceand friendship between the different communities and faithsthat dwell here. Uproot from their hearts all hate, animosity,

jealousy and strife, in order to fulll the longings of itspeople, who aspire for its dignity, and desire to see it as a lightfor all people.

And so may it be God's will that our state be a blessing for allwho live on earth, and that fellowship and liberty will dwellbetween them. Establish soon the vision of your prophet:Nation will not raise a sword against nation, and they will nolonger learn war, and, as it is said: for all of them will knowMe, from the smallest to the greatest.

Amen.

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~ May 2015 ~ Jun 2015Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1Day 1

Sen. Eddie Lucio

Rep. DeWayne Burns

Janitors

2Day 11

Rep. Dwayne Bohac

Military Personnel

3Day 11

Rep. Stuart Spitzer

Places of Worship

4Day 11

Rep. Dan Flynn

Backland Prairies

5Day 11

Sen. Kevin Eltife

Rep. Ken King

State History

6Day 11

Rep. Gene Wu

BBQ

7Day 11

Muslim Holiday:Isra & Miraj

Rep. Mark Keough

Newspapers

8Day 11

Rep. Doc Anderson

Department ofTransportation

9Day 11

Rep. Todd A. Hunter

Hospitals

10Day 11

Rep. Bill Zedler

Guadalupe MountainsNational Park

11Day 1

Rep. Cesar Blanco

Donations

12Day 12

Rep. Travis Clardy

Community

13Day 12

Rep. Jim Keffer

Musicians

14Day 12

Rep. Tracy O. King

Memorials

15Day 12

Armed Forces Day

Rep. Chris Turner

Community Colleges

16Day 12

Rep. Greg Bonnen

Llano Uplift Eco-Region

17Day 12

Rep. Brooks Landgraf

Mentors

18Day 12

Rep. Gary VanDeaver

Family Gatherings

19Day 12

Rep. Armando Walle

Foster Parents

20Day 12

Rep. Carol Alvarado

Social & Case Workers

21 Day 1

Rep. John M. Frullo

Acts of Kindness

22Day 13

Jewish Holiday:First Dayof Shavout

Rep. Mike Schofield

Religious Leaders

23Day 13

Christian Holiday:Pentecost

Rep. Ron Reynolds

Fellowship

24Day 13Memorial DayJewish Holiday:

of ShavoutRep. Drew Springer, Jr.

Pets

25Day 13

Rep. Ryan Guillen

Recreation

26Day 13

Rep. Nicole Collier

Hiking Trails

27Day 13

Rep. Justin Rodriguez

Edwards Plateau Eco-Region

28Day 13

Rep. John Raney

Rep. Marisa Marquez

Heritage

29Day 13

Rep.Myra Crownover

Big Bend National Park

30Day 13

Rep. Gilbert Pena

English Teachers

31 Day 1

Sine DRep. Phil Stephenson

Public Discourse

Notes:! 1(2 345

Rep. Ina Minjarez


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?$2+B 29 +B" 5>@32* CD>$6"A critic once took the late 19th century preacher Dwight Moody to task for his involvement in political and social affairs. Are you not a citizen of

heaven? the detractor asked. Yes, someday I shall be, Moody responded, but right now Im registered to vote in Cook County, Illinois.

Texas Impact is a public policy information and advocacy center for Texas faith communities. Its task is to advocate, and help people of faith toadvocate, the social witness perspectives and policies of their faith traditions.

Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other theological traditions teach that communities and individuals of faith should be concerned about publicpolicy. Teologian John Calvin wrote, Civil magistery is a calling not only holy and legitimate, but by far the most sacred and honorable in hu-

man life.

Ministry through public policy advocacy offers a chance to translate deep convictions about justice, peace and freedom from words into reality.Te political process is where decisions are made that help or harm people; decisions that help to make the kind of world God intends.

Texas Impact staffmembers visit policy-makers and their staffs, testify before legislative committees and facilitate the testimony of religious lead-ers.Tis involvement helps to clarify the moral and ethical issues at stake in public policy.

Find out more at www.texasimpact.org


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Texas Impact 200 East 30th Street Austin, Texas 78705 512-472-3903 texasimpact.org

Texas Impact was founded in 1973 on the central religious conviction that religious communities are called to minister to the whole person--to respond withcompassion to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of all people.Te Texas religious leaders who established Texas Impact believed that such a ministrycouldnt be performed adequately without a concern for basic social problems at the state government level. Texas Impact and the Interfaith Center exist to advancestate public policies that are consistent with the commonly held social principles of our member faith traditions.

Texas Impacts member organizations include Christian denominational bodies, regional Jewish and Muslim social justice committees, and local interfaith councils.In addition to denomination-level member organizations, Texas Impact also has dozens of supporting congregations and hundreds of individual members whopay an annual membership fee to be part of our network. Texas Impact and its sister organization, the Texas Interfaith Center for PublicPolicy, form an interfaith network that brings faith to bear on social issues through grassroots education and policy advocacy. Together, wegive people of faith the information and leadership skills they need to help policymakers improve conditions for families and communities

throughout Texas.

Copyright 2015 Texas Impact. All rights reserved. All photos by Sean Hennigan.

texas impact prayer calendar 84th session 2015

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