May Jesus help the Philadelphia City Council in drafting new Dumpster regulations

We ask this in the name of our resurrected and soon-coming king, Jesus the christ, the anointed son of god.

Is this (A) the conclusion of a Thanksgiving dinner blessing; (B) the prayer after a particularly heartfelt intercession during Mass; or (C) a typical invocation preceding a session of the Philadelphia City Council?

You're right if you guessed (C). And you're right if you think these prayers massively fail the Lemon test, making the practice absurdly unconstitutional.

How absurd? The agenda for the next City Council meeting (PDF) includes discussions of a no-truck-parking zone on a single city block up Olney way; new Dumpster regulations; and a bond issuance for municipal improvements. The Council needs Jesus's guidance with truck parking, Dumpsters, and interest rate swaps? Lord help us all.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is urging Philadelphians to contact their Councilmembers and register a complaint about the extremely sectarian prayers used to open City Council meetings (PDF). Myself, I think the Sermon on the Mount gives City Council some pretty clear guidance as to their rules of order:

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:5-6 (NIV).