O God of a Hundred Names;
      in spite of all but because of much, we made it.
And all the more for these mere fifty years - and the essential ones shared before
      - are we grateful to be assembled here in this convivial setting,
      of good friends, good food, good drink and good conversation.

If our merriment is in any way muted it is only because
      there are empty places here and about;
      places for those who, are not and others that cannot be, with us this eve.
Still, we take courage in the knowledge that all who are not here,
      are always within the watchful care of thy sleepless eye,
      and them that cannot be here
      are eternally in thy sure embrace.
So with thoughts of these we would pause to make proper space for them
      at our tables now, just as there shall always be an honored place for them
      on our class roll . . .

Be with all of us, O God, in the here and now and we recall the there and then,
      as we remember and rehearse the happy Camelot days of our youth.
      And even if we can't remember every name and every game,
            every day and every way we dressed and danced,
            worked and worried, loved and feared we might not be loved -
      for alas, as many of our waistlines have expanded,
            so have many of our memories have contracted,
      and as many of our hairlines have become more white and thin,
            so has the reality that much of what we have become,
            was deep and well seeded, cultivated, nourished and inspirited by peerless teachers,
            challenging coaches,
            caring counselors,
            resilient administrators
            and always loving parental guides
            whose combined devotion
          to the arts of teaching and science of learning,
          and the tolerance and training of the likes of us,
            along with
          their life experience
          - even if at the time we thought they had none,
          their wisdom of the things that matter
          - though at the time it didn't always matter us,
          and their tireless encouragement of us
          - the only thing that did matter to us -
     is what we can never forget, no matter how many
     the years, tears, smiles or miles in between.

So we are great-filled even before we dine
     and wish to give thee thanks, O God,
          for one another,
          for all we have shared,
          for this meal we are about to share
          and these life long lasting memories and myths,
          and especially for all who provided them then
          and share them now.

This we pray to thee, O God,
     who loves us all as if each were thine only care. Amen.