[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H5237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the 
following prayer:
  Almighty God, hear our prayers as the country lies divided before 
You. And yet there is not one person in this room who doesn't want to 
relieve our children of fear or to ensure the safety of the day-to-day 
lives of American citizens.
  How then do we address faithfully the rash of tragedies that have 
plagued our communities and gripped the Nation with turmoil and terror, 
frustration, and fear?
  Holy God, how do we respond appropriately to the devastation that has 
infiltrated our schools and our playgrounds, haunted nightclubs, and 
grocery stores, and taken over city streets and neighborhood graduation 
parties?
  Lord, how do we discern the way to peaceful dialogue without our 
personal prejudices getting in the way?
  And how do we avoid our inclination to be right but seek instead the 
wisdom of Your righteousness?
  As we approach You, whether from the depths of our sadness or the 
heat of our anger, remind us that these days and every day belong to 
You. Though the discussions in which we engage ourselves seem fraught 
with discord, You alone have the power to bring order to our chaos.
  Call us then to set our minds not on our own self-interests but to 
adopt a more faithful attitude that leads to life and peace--an 
attitude that comes only from Your holy spirit.
  Inspire us to yield ourselves, our deliberations, and our lives to 
Your guidance that our Nation would be restored.
  We pray in the power of Your name to serve You faithfully in all that 
we face this day.
  Amen.

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