[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest Chaplain, Dr. David Burr, Pastor Emeritus, First 
Presbyterian Church, Winston-Salem, NC, offered the following prayer:
  May I remind ladies and gentlemen, today there will be an eclipse of 
the Sun in the United States. We are always praying for light.
  Let us bow our heads before Almighty God.
  O God of light, the giver of every good and perfect gift. Our prayer 
today is that You will break through the darkness of our lives; that 
You will shatter the barriers of our blindness with the splendor of 
Your wisdom and presence.
  In the beginning, You created the light that leads to green pastures 
and still waters; You gave us the wisdom to walk in truth and to live 
in peace with one another.
  But, Father, we confess that our minds and hearts are so limited to 
our selfish ways, that we do not always heed that light. We confess 
that sometimes we prefer to linger in the shadows and in the darkness.
  But make today the beginning of a new adventure for our lives and for 
the Senate of the United States. Guide us in all our ways and flood 
this place with the splendor of Your light.
  And we will rejoice and we will give praise to you forever and ever. 
Amen.

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