[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 57 (Thursday, April 29, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page H2485]]

House of Representatives

  The House met at 10 a.m.
  The Reverend Dr. Nathan D. Baxter, Rector, St. James Episcopal 
Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, offered the following prayer:
  Let us pray.
  Blessed Lord, we pause at the beginning of this House's work to 
acknowledge You, the author of liberty. We thank You for the spirit of 
freedom so deeply endowed in the heart of this Nation. We also thank 
You for the great work of democracy, the fruit of liberty, to which 
this House is dedicated.
  We pray for its Members, its officers and staff. For just as we 
believe democracy is inspired of You, we also know its human work can 
be difficult and complex, especially in these times of momentous 
decisions for our Nation and beyond, times of war and terrorist threat, 
times of economic uncertainty. We need the strength of Your spirit.
  So hear our prayer for those we have chosen to represent us in these 
times. We ask that You would grant each one an extra measure of courage 
to act rightly when partisan passions beckon, and give them the grace 
of patience in discerning answers when truth is not clear.
  Finally, we pray not just for this House, but for all of us, 
legislators and citizens, that neither the diligent work of democracy 
nor the privilege of its fruits will ever long distract us from the 
truth of its purpose, which is liberty and justice for all. Blessed 
Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.

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