[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Our guest Chaplain, the Reverend RADM Gregory 
Todd, Chief of Chaplains for the U.S. Navy, will offer the opening 
prayer.
  The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer.
  The Lord be with you.
  Let us pray.
  Eternal Father, ruler of wind and wave, You establish the heavens and 
order all of creation. Behold Your humble people, seeking only to serve 
and not to be served. Grant all who labor on behalf of the United 
States a heart of humble service.
  Lord, in Your wisdom, You led the predecessor of this Congress, the 
Continental Congress of 1775, out of concern for the souls of sailors, 
to mandate that divine services be held on all Navy ships, thus giving 
rise 248 years ago to the Navy Chaplain Corps.
  Inspired by the insight of our forebears, we seek Your divine hand to 
raise up more religious ministry professionals to serve as U.S. Navy 
chaplains. In our day, Lord, grant us an increase of Navy chaplains to 
care for the souls of sailors, marines, coastguardsmen, and their 
families as they navigate the daily challenges of military service.
  We give You thanks for raising up righteous leaders who foster 
justice and promote the good. Grant Your wisdom to the newly confirmed 
and soon-to-be-confirmed flag and general officers, that they may bless 
Your people.
  Grant Your favor to our Nation this holiday season; that though we 
are a people of many faiths or even no faith, we live united as a 
nation without hate or rancor. It is into Your divine hands we commit 
our prayer, trusting in Your divine mercy. Amen.

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