[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 120 (Friday, September 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the following prayer:
  Almighty God, as we seek Your grace as healing for our grief-filled 
hearts, we reaffirm some very powerful presuppositions about You and 
Your providential care for Your creation. Strengthen our conviction 
that You do not cause tragedies. We dismiss that false question, 
``Where was God in the midst of the tragic terrorist attack?'' You were 
with us giving us courage and hope. You created humankind: to know, to 
love, and to serve You. We reverently reflect on what must have been 
Your most crucial decision when You created humankind: You gave us 
freedom of choice, knowing that there can be no response of love 
without choice, but also that humankind would abuse this freedom. There 
is an objective force of evil in the world that often has been 
expressed through people, and movements, and nations. Heinous acts 
happen. You are not dissuaded. You suffer with us, and, with ways we 
could not plan, bring good out of evil. Not even death can separate us 
from You. This life is but a small part of the whole of eternity. In 
the midst of our anguish over those who died in Tuesday's tragedies, 
remind us of the shortness of time and the length of eternity. Make us 
communicators of love and strength to those who continue to suffer in 
the grim aftermath of terrorism. Bless the Senators and the entire 
Senate family with a fresh gift of faith to trust You and a renewed 
assurance that, ``though the wrong seems oft so strong, You are the 
ruler yet!'' Amen.

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