[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S13947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer:
  Let us pray.
  Eternal Spirit, thank You for Your steadfast love and Your unchanging 
mercy. Your wondrous deeds sustain us and Your compassion keeps us 
secure. Help us not to have inflated notions of our importance but seek 
instead to live so that we are worthy of honor, even if it never comes. 
Remind us that true greatness comes through service, and may we esteem 
others as better than ourselves. Give us wisdom to follow Your example 
of generous self sacrifice, and keep us from returning to dead-end 
paths.
  Bless our lawmakers today. Strengthen them in their challenging work 
of striving to find common ground. Shield them from strife and division 
as they seek unity for the good of our Nation and world. Empower them 
to trust You without wavering.
  We pray this in Your holy Name. Amen.

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