[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Almighty God, ever present and Lord of history, throughout the ages 
You have drawn our attention and told us: ``You are a chosen race, a 
royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people truly set apart as God's 
own.''
  Frankly, Lord, You overwhelm us. We wrestle with the times in which 
we live because they demand so much from us. We wrestle with Your own 
deep calling which dignifies us yet demands great responsibility.
  Empower us to live up to Your expectations as uniquely chosen to 
guide the course of human events in this holy Nation.
  We are dedicated to serve You by lifting up the sacrifice of work 
today.
  We embrace this work as dedicated service to You, Our God, and as 
service to the holy people we represent.
  Since You have called us to this task, You will surely gift us with 
Your Spirit, transforming each aspect of our work into an act of 
worship; transcending all barriers and distinctions into realizing a 
deeper unity at work in us, Your Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

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