Grace / benediction

At a public function, grace is said before the meal with the guests standing up.

In a private home, grace is usually said after everyone is seated and before anything is touched on the table. It is recommended that grace be short. Here is the most familiar grace, acceptable to all religions:

For what we are about to receive,
Lord, make us truly thankful. Amen.

A clergyman who is a guest either at a public function or in a home is usually asked to say grace.