Our most gracious heavenly father: 

We give you thanks for the blessings you bestow on our city each and every day, for the people whose passion and love for you and for our city is evident in their service and in their voices as they advocate for change, sustainability, leadership, compassion, wise use of your resources, and mutual respect.

We give thanks for city leaders and ask that you continually guide and remind them of their role as faithful servants. We celebrate and lift up new businesses and ventures that they may know success, not just financial reward, but the reward that comes from those they serve and the lives they impact.

We ask that you remain ever present with those who suffer in mind, body or spirit, that they may know your grace and healing power and have the courage to reach out for help. May they know this city as home and us as family. Help us empower others to let their light shine.

And Lord, let us ALL be humble enough to acknowledge our shortfalls, yet courageous enough to overcome them.   

Lord, we celebrate and remember those who have gone before us, who founded this city and forged its rich history, and we pray for all those who will be its future. May their light shine. Let us rejoice in diversity and may it enrich our lives and our city. Let us inspire and call on our youth to develop their city to its full potential. 

Finally, we give thanks for your many churches, schools, businesses and nonprofits who choose to abide here, for police and firefighters, for teachers, counselors, artists, planners, builders, dreamers, accountants, attorneys, chefs, and cashiers, indeed for all those who use their hands and their minds to the glory of you and the benefit of your people. Bless them in their service, have mercy on us all and grant us peace.  Amen.

Leslie Osche Chairman, Butler County Board of CommissionersReligious and civic leaders composed original prayers for Seek God for Butler, a recently published booklet of prayers focused on our community’s spiritual concerns. The Butler Eagle publishes a prayer from the booklet every Monday.