Invocation

Good evening, may I invite everyone to pause for a moment of reflection, each according to our own faith and tradition.

Almighty God, creator and sources of all wisdom, love and peace, we come before you with grateful hearts, we thank you for bringing us together this evening of fellowship and friendship. Thank you for the privilege of serving others and for reminding us that service is not merely an obligation but a blessing.

As we gather to celebrate the beginning of this new rotary year and the leaders who have accepted the responsibility to serve, remind us that leadership is not measured by titles or recognition but by the strength of our character, the humility of our hearts, and the lives we held improve.

Teach us to lead not for our selves but for those we entrusted to serve. Tonight we lift up our beloved country in a time when many longs for greater trust, stronger institutions and renewed hope.

Grant wisdom to our leaders and to each one of us, help us always to choose truth over convenience, honesty over personal gain, unity over division and the common good over self-interest.

Make us faithful stewards of every responsibility entrusted to us in our families, our professions, our organizations, and our communities.

We also pray for our world, when there is conflict, bring peace; where there is suffering, bring comfort; where there is injustice, bring compassion. Help us build friendships across cultures, professions, beliefs and generations, knowing that understanding is often the first step toward lasting peace.

Lord, remind us why Rotary exists, keep our hearts focused on the people you have called us to serve. Teach us to serve not only with willing hands, but with compassionate hearts that recognize the dignity and worth of every person. Help us to see those who are often unseen, to hear those whose voices are seldom heard, and to reach those who need hope the most.

As we begin this new Rotary year, with the call to create lasting impact, may that impact begin within each of us. Before it is seen in our projects, may it first seen in our character; before it be measured by achievements, may it reflect in choices we make each day. May our words bring encouragement, our action bring hope and our example inspired others to serve. May the four-way test continue, guide our thoughts, our words, our actions, that what we think, say and do may be truthful, fair to all concern, build goodwill and better friendships and be beneficial to all.

Grant us the wisdom to decern what is right, courage to do what is right even if its difficult, humility to listen before to lead, and compassion to faithfully lift the ideal of service above self. We ask your special blessing upon us the newly inducted officers as we begin this year of service, grant us wisdom to lead, humility to serve, courage to do what is right and faithfulness in caring in the trust place in us.

Bless every Rotarian, every guest, every family represented here this evening and especially the communities we are call to serve. May this new rotary year be a time of faithful service, meaningful fellowship and enduring hope. And may we always remember that the greatest legacy we leave is not the position we hold or the recognition received but the lives we touch, the trust we earn and the hope we leave behind.

This we pray, each according to our own faith and belief.