[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 144 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H8021]
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:
  On this, the seventh anniversary of the historic tragedy inflicted on 
this Nation known as 9/11, we, Your people, turn to You, the Lord of 
consolation, healing, and redemption. We remember both innocent 
citizens and heroic first responders. We continue to mourn their loss, 
and pray Your peace descend upon their families and their colleagues.
  It is said that day changed the world. Lord, help us to embrace the 
reality of what has changed. Our perception of ourselves as a Nation? 
Our relationship to other Nations around the world? Confusion or 
clarity in our understanding of human nature? Have any of our notions 
of violence changed?
  It seems, Lord, the urgent question of our time is whether we can 
make change our friend and not our enemy.
  When and however You will, almighty God, help us to change what needs 
to be changed, and humbly admit what we cannot change. Cast Your light 
upon us so we may look deep down within and see what we are unwilling 
to change.
  Because our world is spinning so fast, we still cannot grasp Your 
dynamic stillness and peace or imagine everlasting and unconditional 
love. So, Lord, have mercy on us, pardon us, and uphold us now and 
forever. Amen.

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