Prayers
For
Home And
City
For over 30 years I have lived in my home City by the sea. As a kid I came here for holidays and dreamed of living here. I can think of no greater joy than living in a place of ones choosing.
Beginnings Need Blessings
Blessing for Brighton and Hove City Council read at first Full Council Meeting on July 20th, 2023
From our first day of life
To our scary arrival at nursery school
University or work
Beginnings need blessings
From the moment we opened our hearts
And wept about our first love
To the first day we stepped into marriage
Beginnings need blessings
Setting out on a new journey
A spirit just needs to be blessed
Which is why we bless our Mayor today….
From the heart
Her known achievements
Gifts to her constituents, her pupils,
Her family and friends
Her promise now
Her work for our City tomorrow
And in the year to come
We thank her
From the heart
And also…
Let us honour our new Council
And our new councillors
Many embarking on service to our City for the first time
New girls and boys at school
Tackling so much… familiar and unfamiliar
Bizarre letters about dodgy neighbours
Stroppy emails about vicious dogs
Bicycles, cats, noise, parking, weeds
Enraged communications about gruesome graffiti
Something very different
From your previous life
Beginnings definitely need blessings
And so…
In this brief moment of sacred connection
We, representing people of all faith and none in our City
Take the opportunity
To stand beside and before our Mayor and our councillors
And express our heartfelt appreciation for you all —
For your service…
Your commitment…
Your compassion…
And your care for us and our most beautiful City
Bless you and thank you