[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 14 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  Rev. Larry C. Christenson, director emeritus, International Lutheran 
Renewal Center, Northome, MN, offered the following prayer:
  Our Heavenly Father, we pause at the beginning of this day to 
acknowledge Your divine presence, and to bring our prayer before You.
  As the prophet Daniel wrote so long ago, so also we would pray, ``O 
my God, incline Your ear and hear * * * we do not present our 
supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of 
Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and 
act!''
  We thank You, Lord, for the blessings of freedom vouchsafed to our 
Nation and held in trust by those who serve here. May Your spirit 
impart gifts of understanding and wisdom, in this House, on this day. 
Grant, O God, that human agreements humbly sought and found here, may 
agree root and branch with Your divine will and purpose. Amen.

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