Council members, take your seat, please.

Oh, yeah.

Sergeant Orl, could you please cause this order?

Oh, yes, sir, we're gonna come to the city of members.

All right.

We have the chaplain of the day is Reverend Rosalind Nichols from Freedom's Chapel, Christian Church.

Could you uh lead us in prayer, followed by Dr.

Jeff Warren, leave us in pledge allegiance.

Let us pray.

The word says, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than one's own self.

Let each of you look out not only for one's own interest, but also for the interest of others.

Let us pray.

We gather in this place with seasoned and newly elected citizens who have chosen intentionally to become public servants of our community.

We gather during women's history month, surrounded by a great cloud of women from Roberta Church to Minerva Joniken and all who took the blow against the walls of racism and sexism and classism, so that these women and men with us today represent and serve the whole of our community.

We pray and acknowledge that they have been elected to address the lingering disparities while believing and fighting for a better tomorrow for all of the citizens of our beloved Memphis.

We pray that the power and authority of this place will never compromise their integrity nor squander the investment of those who exercise their right to vote, nor reinforces the apathy of those who have given up in despair.

We pray to you, Holy One, to give them the courage that you promised Jeremiah, to speak truth to power even when that power comes among and within these elected to serve.

Give them fortitude to carry out their duties, mindful of equity over elections and justice over jurisdiction.

Give them inclusive minds to see us and our, not merely me and my neighborhood, me and my district, me and my constituents.

Give them a collective consciousness where the most vulnerable are lifted as we all rise together.

Give them ears that never grow deaf to the outcries of the people, minds stayed and focused on provisions for others more than power for themselves.

Give them hearts that never grow cold and calloused by the challenges they face.

Give them wise counsel and trusted confidence to advise them.

Give them ears to listen to those who speak regardless of race, gender, class, or position.

Give them imaginations and creativity, teachable spirits, to see what is possible more than what is impossible, so that the people walk in hope and not as defeated grasshoppers.

May the only party they focus on be the one that celebrates the well-being of all of our citizens.

The only party celebrated be the one that dismantles the systems that perpetuate disparity and dysfunction.

We pray that you will grant them stamina to continue to do good and not grow weary in well-doing and never recuse themselves for selfish gain or for the responsibility that they have been called to serve these people.

We pray that you will grant them grace that they might see in others a vision, a reflection of themselves, and that they may offer to others even greater than what they want for themselves.

We ask that you will cover them, strengthen them, sustain them, and comfort them, comfort when needed, convict when necessary, and above all things, bless the work of their hands and their hearts for the goodwill of our city, community, and our world.

We need them to serve.

We need them to serve not themselves, but the collective spirit of goodness that renews and revives all of life.

You are our hope, our strength, our life, and we therefore give thanks, and we say, let it be so.

Amin, Amen and Ashe.

Which is stands.

One nation.

Councilwoman Walker.

Um could you come to the media, the middle podium?

And you're recognized.

Thank you so much for joining us today and accepting my invitation.

I thought it was apropos being women's month.

That's right.

That you have already referenced.

Greetings, be it hereby known that the Reverend Dr.

Rosalind Nichols, in recognition of a life of exemplary qualities, outstanding service to the city, wonderful, momentous involvement in humanitarian affairs, affairs.

Let me pull these new glasses on.

And demonstrated concern for governmental process has been appointed chaplain of the day by the Memphis City Council and is hereby entitled to all of the honors, rights, privileges, and prerogatives appertaining to the office and to the display of this certificate.

Given under this seal, this 19th day of March 2024, signed JB Smiley, Chairman, and presented by yours truly, Pearl Eva Walker.

Thank you again.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Thank you.

Thank you, uh Reverend Nichols and Councilwoman Walker for inviting her.

Um Councilwoman Easter Thomas, it's not on our agenda today, but I would like to write to recognize you.

I know that uh there's a very special person here that you want to say a few words for and have him say share some marks with with us as well.

Councilwoman Easter Thomas.

Yes, Chair, thank you.

Um this mic work better when we I promise it does.

Everything's working better.

Um, I would like to invite up Reverend O.