[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 135 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  The Reverend Dr. Ronald F. Christian, director, Lutheran Social 
Services of Virginia, Fairfax, VA, offered the following prayer:
  Almighty God, You have placed us in a world of space and time, and 
through the events of our lives You bless us with Your love.
  Make us all mindful of the swift and certain passage of time, not 
only the ticks of the clock, but the sweep of the years.
  We acknowledge that time is Your gift to each of us. We pray, let us 
all accept Your gift of time, the hours of this day, the days of this 
month, the months of this year, and the years of our lives with 
gratitude, using the gift wisely in the cause of peace and goodwill to 
all.
  O God, let us use our time for blessing rather than cursing, for 
thanksgiving rather than complaining, for caring rather than gaining, 
and for giving rather than conserving.
  May we know Your presence in our lives. May we see Your love in our 
surroundings, and may we live with joy in this moment. Amen.

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