[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord of light and majesty, a few weeks ago this Chamber prayed for 
Your blessing and protection upon the Olympic Winter Games before the 
torch was lighted. We confess that often enough we cry out to You when 
in need, and sometimes forget to return to You to offer thanks.
  Today, Lord, we praise and thank You as the Lord God who made heaven 
and Earth, who granted peace and security to the Olympics in Salt Lake 
City.
  We know You will bless and provide a just reward to the God-fearing 
people of Utah for all their labor in hosting the Olympics. We are 
grateful You have granted safe travel to all who attended the games, 
and brought them home to be received with joy and peace.
  During the games, many young people around the globe came to see 
themselves as children of light, bringing new life and reconciliation 
to an aching world. May the Olympians throughout their lifetime be 
ambassadors of friendship and fair play beyond national borders. 
Knowing the importance of good order and abiding by the rules, and 
having glimpsed the glory of a community born of freedom and 
excellence, may they bring to people of all ages a spirit that will 
build upon yesterday's joys and tomorrow's hopes for a world free of 
drugs, addictions, and compulsions, even that of always winning or 
being first.
  We seek such freedom from You, now and forever. Amen.

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