[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 86 (Monday, May 22, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2467]
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:
  We approach You, Lord our God, embraced in Your perfect love. In You 
do we find all we need. If we are afraid, we find courage. If we are 
despairing, we find hope. If ill, we find healing. We need only give up 
all that holds us back from receiving the grace and mercy You offer so 
freely to each of us.
  May we not allow ourselves to be caught up in the fear of failure, 
the fear of the unknown, or the fear of our enemies, but by Your grace 
may we discover the courage to move forward where You would have us go.
  May we not be inclined to look through the lens of despair, the 
despair of loss, the despair of rejection, the despair of death, but in 
Your mercy may we gird ourselves with the hope of Your presence in 
these shadows.
  May we be willing and open to find the strength You provide to endure 
our suffering. Be we ill in mind, body, or spirit, may we find healing 
in Your peace, a peace that surpasses our understanding.
  In You, O Lord, do we find all that we need this day: courage, hope, 
and healing. O holy one, may we not live our lives for desires that 
fall short of Your grace plan for us, but open our eyes to Your 
provision and recognize Your unfailing love for us.
  In the name of the one who is able to do far more than we could ever 
ask for or imagine, we pray.
  Amen.

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