O Lord, Our God,
We pray for your continued grace and blessing on New College Berkeley.
We thank you for the Past.
For David Gill and Earl Palmer and their imagination, wisdom, and foresight to found NCB in turbulent times on the doorstep of one of the world’s great universities.
For the courageous, forward looking group of volunteers who surrounded them, supported the cause, and served, often, sacrificially.
For the brave students, who first came to the unknown, new New College from all sorts of occupations to ‘walk in newness of life’ in their personal lives and vocations.
For the dedicated faculty who risked financial and professional reward, taught, and mentored them.
For NCB committed alumni around the world bringing light and life into their professions and personal networks.
We thank you for the Present.
For the courses and programs that NCB continues to give. For the many students who are enrolled in them and the highly qualified teachers who instruct and guide them.
For the highly competent and creative leadership of Executive Director Susan Phillips and for its diverse and talented Board of Governors.
For the generous and faithful volunteers and financial partners—individuals and foundations—who sustain the work of NCB and enable it to develop new horizons.
For the Graduate Theological Union and its manifold environments that NCB is able to participate in to share its voice as NCB learns to be a better listener to voices from traditions other than its own.
We thank you for the Future unknown.
As you, O Lord, have been faithful in the past and are faithful now, we know you have plans for NCB, not to harm it, but prosper and give it hope and a future once again in turbulent times.
We ask you to strengthen every facet of NCB’s ministry and bless all who are and will be involved in it - leading, teaching, studying, supporting.
We also ask for a blessing for the future on all NCB’s collegial neighbors in the GTU.
Therefore as we have received Christ Jesus our Lord, help us to continue to live lives in him, rooted and built up in him, established in the faith and giving abundant thanks.
Go forth and walk in newness of life!
May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you now and always.
Amen.