A Grace for the Civic Dinner of the Guild of Investment Managers

Gustav Klimt - Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, 1903-1907

A grace written for the Civic Dinner of the Guild of Investment Managers on Tuesday 18th February 2025 at The Goldsmiths' Hall. 

A Grace before a dinner celebrating the Civil Partnership of two good friends

The Owl and the Pussycat - Screen Print by Joyce Hargreaves

A grace given before a dinner celebrating the Civil Partnership of two good friends:

From the Yorkshire Moors to The Golden State;
there’s no distance too far for your soul mate!
Now a new journey has begun, no time to reminisce
  about blowing the last long-goodbye kiss.
Sharing a home and all their stuff
They’ve celebrated their love together at Goodenough.
So let us thank God for such a special day;
before sharing the First Supper after anchors aweigh
and give thanks for being with them on this new trip; 
   the maiden voyage on their civil partner-ship.
Amen.

Image : The Owl and the Pussycat by Joyce Hargreaves

A Grace for the Installation Dinner of the Guild of Investment Managers

Pennies from Heaven, George Pemba, 1986

A grace written for the Installation Dinner of the Guild of Investment Managers on Tuesday 9th July 2024. The dinner took place a week after the General Election in Ironmongers’ Hall, close to the site of John Wesley’s conversion experience in Aldersgate Street when his heart was ‘strangely warmed’.

In Ironmongers’ Hall, 

we gather to install 

   a Master, Wardens and their Court.

To steward this growing Guild 

as you continue to build 

   the City that we ought.  

May we value this time to share

   in such delightful fare.

And as we sit and eat, 

chewing over our new political elite, 

spare a thought for all who serve. 

Let us not regret 

   the sight of stripped assiettes;

a compliment well deserved.

Lord, may all those who invest 

   be well and truly blessed.

Hearts warmed as we digest 

all we are about to receive. 

Amen 

Image : Pennies from Heaven, George Pemba