Beginnings Need Blessings

When the election took place in 2023, there was so much hope attached to the new Labour Government. At that time – July 2023 – a large number of new Labour Councillors also got into Brighton and Hove Council, and as the IFCG was serving the Mayor and the City as Chaplain, it seemed a good idea for me to write something that honoured the arrival of so many fresh faces to the Chamber. 

The philosophy behind the prayer remains the same. Beginnings do need Blessings. With that in mind… I would like a few blessings for my new book – Sun, Fun and Bungaroosh – which has just arrived on the bookshelves in the lovely City Books of Hove, and hopefully will be seen on a few other bookshop bookshelves, too.

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 us 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 featuring 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

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