[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25741]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest Chaplain, Dr. Tom Phillips, offered the following prayer:
  Almighty God, we are grateful that Your sovereignty is demonstrated 
in service. As the Senators do their work here, may Your deep love for 
them find reality in their speech and action. As You offered Yourself 
freely as a way of bringing hope, overcoming discouragement, and 
offering a challenge to be our best, so may they share themselves with 
each other.
  We freely admit the fear we feel when we imagine giving ourselves to 
each other. It seems overwhelming when we recall that You told us it is 
possible to so love even our enemies. O Lord, what a revolution that 
would be--a revolution of new life for all.
  Take from our minds all fragments of fear that would lead us to 
withdraw into self-absorption. Give us the gift of freedom to fight 
without reserve for the community of humankind, the enjoyment of the 
world as Your gift to everyone and the special role this United States 
Senate has in bringing this gift to the whole world.
  So, on this day, may these Senators know that the people of this 
Nation not only lay heavy responsibilities upon them but also hold them 
up in prayer. May the gracious power of Your love be served in what is 
done in this hall today. Amen.

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