Invocations
and
Graces
Lions District 201V2
2014
LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL PURPOSES
This little book of Invocations and
Graces is resource for the use of all
Lions and Clubs in District 201V2.
The Invocations and Graces in this
book have been reproduced from
“Invocations—A Memento of the
Golden Year of Lions in Australia”,
produced by PDG Allan Price, the
1997/98 District Governor.
Additional Invocations and Graces
have been included too.
Printed—November 2014
To organise, charter and supervise service clubs to
be known as Lions clubs.
To coordinate the activities and standardise the
administration of Lions clubs.
To create and foster a spirit of understanding
among the peoples of the world.
To promote the principles of good government and
good citizenship.
To fund and otherwise serve the civic, cultural,
social and moral welfare of the community.
To assist financially, culturally, socially, and morally
the disabled, disadvantaged and infirm of the
community both directly and also indirectly.
To unite the Clubs in the bonds of friendship, good
fellowship and mutual understanding.
To provide a forum for the open discussion of all
matters of public interest; provided, however, that
partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be
debated by Club members.
To encourage service-minded people to serve their
community without personal financial reward, and
to encourage efficiency and promote high ethical
standards in commerce, industry, professions,
public works and private endeavours.
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34
LIONS CODE OF ETHICS
To show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by
industrious application to the end that I may merit a
reputation for quality of service.
To seek success and to demand all fair remuneration or
profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success
at the price of my own self-respect lost because of
unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts
on my part.
To remember that in building up my business it is not
necessary to tear down another’s; to be loyal to my
clients or customers and true to myself.
Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my
position or action towards others, to resolve such
doubt against myself.
To hold friendship as an end and not a means. To hold
that true friendship exists not on account of the service
performed by one to another, but that true friendship
demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in
which it is given.
Always to bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my
nation, my state, and my community, and to give them
my unswerving loyalty in word, act, and deed. To give
them freely of my time, labour and means.
To aid others by giving my sympathy to those in
distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to
the needy.
To be Careful with my criticism and liberal with my
praise; to build up and not destroy.
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33
“May we all remember our
traditions of the past, and
have the vision to see
where our future likes, and
the strength to accept any
challenge we may have
ahead of us”.
Youth of the Year Dinner
LOYAL TOAST
To Her Majesty the Queen
and Australia
Lord, we gather tonight for one of
the important nights of our Lions
year, the Club judging of the Youth of
the Year Quest. Assist these fine
young people in their endeavours as
they take the experience of the
Quest into their futures.
Thank you for the opportunity to
share this night with them and their
guests.
Bless this meal that we will share.
AMEN
32
Youth of the Year Dinner
Lord, as we Lions gather for this
Youth of the Year judging, we offer
our thanks for this meal and for the
opportunity to meet with these
young Australians who are to take
part in our youth program and with
their guests.
We pray that through our Youth of
the Year activity our participants will
become more aware of the need to
contribute towards the welfare of
the community as a whole.
May they be willing to accept all
opportunities and responsibilities
which may come their way to
prepare them for adulthood.
AMEN
31
CONTENTS
Changeover Night
1
Induction of a New Member
2
When there are Visitors and/or Guests 3
Club Election Night
5
Club Nomination Night
6
Following a Successful Project
7
General Invocations
9
Graces
24
Youth Exchange Dinner
30
Youth of the Year Dinner
31
Lions Code of Ethics
33
Lions Clubs International Purposes
34
Changeover Night
Youth Exchange Dinner
Lord, we give thanks for this
evening’s dinner and for the
blessings this Club has received
over the years.
We pray that our new Board will be
wise in its decisions in the coming
year, and so advance the Objects of
Lions International.
We pray also that all members of
our Club, and their partners, may
co-operate with each other so that
our service to mankind may bring
more understanding and peace to
this troubled world.
AMEN
Lord, let us recognize the fundamental
reality of our age that national interest
can no longer be attained in isolation
from world interest. Help us to
improve International relations
through our Youth Exchange students.
Let the friendships they create, the
understand and goodwill they convey,
break down suspicion and ignorance
when they occur; and, in their place,
build up mutual trust and concern with
our exchange program and with these
young people.
Let Lionism be a medium through
which the goodwill which is in our
hearts be expressed to others; guard
our students on their journeys and
return them safely to their homeland.
AMEN
1
30
Graces
Induction of a New Member
Almighty and eternal God, bless
the Lions and guest assembled
here this evening. Bless the food
that we partake. Give us wisdom
and understanding that we may
uphold the principles of Lionism.
Help us to pursue with energy the
Objects and Ethics of our
Association.
Let us all maintain our simple
purpose to serve people by giving
our aid to the sick, the deaf, the
blind, the afflicted and the needy.
AMEN
Lord, as we Lions meet tonight, we
offer thanks for this evening’s meal,
and for the new member(s) who will
be inducted into our Club and into
our International organisation tonight.
We pray this induction ceremony will
serve to help our new member(s)
find fulfilment in serving the
community through our Lions organisation.
AMEN
29
2
When there are Visitors and/or
Guests
Lord, as we Lions gather this evening,
we give thanks for this dinner and for
the opportunity to meet with our
visitors and invited guests.
We pray that further knowledge and
understanding of our fellow citizens
in all walks of life will serve to
advance the objects of our Lions
work.
AMEN
3
Graces
O Lord bless this food for our use
and us for your Service, and use us
to help to relieve the needs of
others. For Christ’s sake.
AMEN
****************
God, giver of all good, we thank
you for our daily food. May Lions
friends and Lion ways help us to
serve you all our days.
AMEN
28
Graces
For the food we are about to
receive
The Fellowship we enjoy in Lionism
And the opportunity to serve our
fellow person.
We thank thee Lord.
AMEN
****************
O Lord, bless this food for our use
and us for your service, and use us
to help to relieve the needs of
others.
AMEN
27
When there are Visitors and/or
Guests
We come together tonight as Lions
and we thank you for the goodness
that you have shared with us and
especially the meal that we are about
to have.
We thank you for giving us the
opportunity to meet with our visitors
and would ask that you allow them to
see the work that we try to do in our
communities.
AMEN
4
Club Election Night
Lord, on this occasion when we elect
our Board for the coming year, we
give thanks for this evening’s meal
and for the opportunities we have
been given to provide community
service during thepast year.
We pray that those who are elected
tonight will grasp their chance to
contribute to our Club and to
improve the welfare of our community through Lions service.
AMEN
5
Graces
Great giver of our daily food
We thank Thee for Thy gifts so good
May Lions serve Thee everywhere
And with mankind Thy blessings
share.
AMEN
*******************
Almighty God, we give thanks for
our health of mind and body and
for the bounty which we enjoy.
We thank you for the freedom of
our blessed land, and pray that it
will ever be.
Grant that our service to mankind
may bring more understand and
peace to this troubled world.
AMEN
26
Graces
Lord, we ask Your blessing on the
gifts before us. Bless the hands
that have prepared and served
them. Bless our time of fellowship
and conversation. Bless our fellow
Lions who cannot be with us. But
most of all bless our hearts that we
may bless others.
AMEN
****************
For the privilege and ability to serve
our fellowman; for the Joy of Life;
for friends and friendships; for the
food we are about to take, we give
the thanks our Lord.
AMEN
25
Club Nomination Night
Lord, as we call tonight for
nominations from the members for
the officers of the Club for the
coming year be with us as we decide
what to do. Encourage those who
may be a little reticent and feel that
they are unable to help.
Help our Club work together in the
interested of helping others less
fortunate. Bless this meal that we
are about to have and assist us in
our work in the community.
AMEN
6
Following a Successful Project
Graces
Lord, as we Lions meet tonight,
we give thanks for the meal we
are about to have,
and for the success of our recent
……………………………………………………..
project.
We ask that our participation in
this project will increase our
understanding of the needs of the
community which we serve, and
our appreciation of, and regard for
each other.
AMEN
We bow our heads in grateful
thanks,
That we meet here today.
We don’t forget our absent friends
on journeys far away
The food we eat, the wine we drink,
Enjoyed amongst each other remind
us in our daily lives.
The needs and wants of others.
In spirit and in harmony, they join
us in our prayers.
That peace prevail upon the earth.
Not only ours but theirs.
AMEN
7
24
General Invocation
Following a Successful Project
Bless this gathering and our
fellowship and we hope that it
may continue in the years to come.
Bless those who are no longer
with us.
Bless those who because of
circumstances or illness could not
attend this evening.
Bless our partners, without whom
we could not serve as we do.
Bless our continued intentions to
serve our fellow persons through
Lionism and give us the health to
do so.
Bless the food which we will
partake of.
AMEN
Lord, we Lions thank you for this
evening’s dinner and we offer
thanks for the chance we have
been given through
…………………………………………………….
project to put our Lions Objects
and Code of Ethics into practice.
We pray that we might be able to
continue to identify in future the
needs of the community we week
to serve through Lionism.
AMEN
23
8
General Invocation
Give me the eyes to see myself,
my weaknesses, my strengths
and the vision to serve my fellow
man.
Give me the eyes to see my
responsibilities to my family, my
Club, my community, my State,
my Nation and my World.
Give me the eyes as a Lion, to
understand, and to utilise our
organisation towards creating a
universe for humanity that
encompasses, Peace, Prosperity
and Happiness.
AMEN
9
General Invocation
Lord, as we Lions gather here
We pause to offer up this prayer
Bless the food that we partake
And every effort that we make
To build the communities in which
we live
And put gladness in our hearts to
give
Bless the blind, and all we do to
help mankind
Be with us till we meet again
And bless our land and homes
AMEN
22
General Invocation
Creator of all things that are
We lift up our hearts in gratitude
For the mere joy of living
For friends and good company
And the privilege of service to
humanity as a Lion
And for what we are about to
receive.
AMEN
********
Where Lions meet, be present Lord.
Weld all our hearts with one accord
To do thy will, Lord make us strong
To aid the weak and right the wrong.
For what we are about to receive
May the Lord make us truly thankful.
AMEN
21
General Invocation
Lord, help us in our efforts to aid
the blind, and deaf, the afflicted
and the needy. Guide us also in
our endeavour to create and
foster a greater understanding
among the peoples of the World
so that we may truly say “Lionism
is love and compassion”.
AMEN
10
General Invocation
General Invocation
Lord, make me an instrument of
your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow
love
Where this in injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light, and
Where there is sadness, joy.
AMEN
We are a Lions band, O Lord
Who sit down to festive board
To partake of the food you give
In order that we may live
To do a very noble deed
To help out fellow men in need
Bless the cause for which we
stand
Bless our homes and our fair land
Your gracious guidance is all we
ask
Please help us in our daily task.
AMEN
11
20
General Invocation
When I attend my Lions Club and
break bread at the table,
I give a million thanks to God to
know that I am able
To meet there with my fellow man,
relax and play and sing.
To hear the speakers of the day
The fine thoughts that they bring.
I realise that I have a part in caring
for the blind,
Also the under privileged.
Let’s keep them all in mind.
Now as we do our daily tasks,
Pray God we do them greatly.
That Liberty and Intelligence
Will be our Nations Safety.
AMEN
19
General Invocation
Lord, hear our voice. Grant us
strength and courage as we seek to
serve mankind; strengthen our
foundation of International good
will. Continually remind us that we
are here for the betterment of our
fellow man — and, in so doing,
sustain us in sincerity and purpose.
Help us all to work to be successful
in our obligations and in our
responsibility to Lionism.
AMEN
12
General Invocation
General Invocation
I am only one, but still I am one.
We cannot do everything, but still we
can do something.
Let us not refuse to do the something
that we can do.
As a few we cannot change the world,
but we can change the world for a
few.
We do ourselves the most good by
doing something for others.
God, grant us your blessings in our
endeavours.
AMEN
Give us Lord a bit of sun, a bit of
work and a bit of fun.
Give us in all the struggle and
splutter, our daily bread and bit of
butter.
Give us health, our keep to make,
And a bit to spare for others sake.
Give us too, a bit of song, And a
tale and a book to help us along.
Give us Lord a chance to be brave,
wise and free, our goodly best for
others, and ourselves, ’Till all may
learn to live as brothers.
AMEN
18
13
General Invocation
Gracious God, we give thanks for
the privilege of being able to
come together for a common
purpose —
to help improve the quality of life
in our communities.
Help us to be considerate of one
another's point of view, and to
recognize that, although we may
not always speak with one voice,
we are all striving for common
purposes.
May we at the end of the day,
safely return to our homes with
renewed enthusiasm for the task
ahead.
AMEN
17
General Invocation
We pray to be taught how to live,
that we may provide an example
for people everywhere.
Take away from us all bigotry and
intolerance and help us to aid the
weak and succour the needy so
that we may experience the true
meaning of living together.
AMEN
14
General Invocation
General Invocation
We pray that all persons may
We ask for help and guidance, to
enable this gathering to think, act
and work in such a way that our
deliberations will provide a
meaningful contribution to our
communities and to our country.
By so doing, may we justly
encourage others to seek and to
following a worthwhile example;
and to hope that any person who
may follow in our footsteps may
do so with pride, dignity and
humility.
AMEN
learn to replace hatred with love,
selfishness with a service to
others, and greed with generosity,
so that the scourges of poverty,
disease and ignorance will be
made to disappear from this
earth, and all persons will come to
live together with a peace
guaranteed by mutual respect
and love.
AMEN
15
16