[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 61 (Friday, May 3, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  The Reverend Dr. Donna Claycomb Sokol, Mount Vernon Place United 
Methodist Church, Washington, D.C., offered the following prayer:
  Loving God, thank You for the women and men you have called and 
equipped to be Members of this body--people we criticize while not 
knowing what we would do if we walked in their shoes, individuals we 
say need our prayers while regularly forgetting to pray for them, 
citizens we often tear down instead of seeing Your image upon them.
  Grant each Member and their staffs the capacity to dream new dreams 
for our Nation and then give them the courage to legislate in a way 
that ensures peace, values every person, promotes sound stewardship, 
and moves our country forward without leaving anyone behind.
  Heal that which is broken. Restore relationships that are separated 
by party lines. Surprise the cynical. Awaken the exhausted. Humble the 
exalted. Unbind those who are tied to anyone but You. And when the road 
seems rough or too divided, unify us once more.
  Amen.

                          ____________________