[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 131 (Friday, September 20, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H10723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  The Reverend Dr. Ronald F. Christian, office of the bishop, 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Washington, DC, offered the 
following prayer:
  Almighty God, with Your mercy new to us every day irrespective of our 
nature, and with Your grace provided to each one alike without regard 
to need, we pray, give to each one of us, O God, Your gift of peace, so 
that our lives will be an example of Your righteousness.
  Give to our Nation, O God, the earnest search for justice, so that 
our conversations and actions will show a desire for what is right.
  Give to those ordained with responsibility for leadership a sense of 
awe and a spirit of humility that will offer thoughtful and useful 
commentary on behalf of those without voice.
  And give to us all a measure of Your love, so that compassion can be 
our benchmark for honor, kindness the waterline for friendship, 
patience the starting pole of brother and sisterhood, and hope the 
finish line for our lives. Amen.

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