[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16618]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the following prayer:
  Father, thank You for the privilege to pray to You at the beginning 
of this work week in the United States Senate. Gratefully, we remember 
the historic event which made possible one of America's most enduring 
traditions. On September 7, 1774, the first prayer in Congress was 
prayed when the Continental Congress convened. We praise You that this 
declaration of dependence on You led to the Declaration of Independence 
twenty-two months later. We reflect on the many times throughout our 
Nation's history that prayer broke deadlocks, opened the way to greater 
unity, and brought light in our darkest times. As we celebrate the 
power of prayer in years past, deepen our individual and corporate 
prayers for this Senate and our Nation. Help us to say those crucial 
words, ``One Nation Under God'' with new trust in You this morning.
  Dear God, bless America. Guide this Senate to lead this Nation to 
greater trust in You. We need a profound spiritual awakening once 
again. Forgive our Nation's humanistic secularism, materialism, and 
insensitivity to the problems of poverty, racism, and injustice. Lower 
Your plumb line of righteousness on every facet of our society and 
reveal what is out of plumb for what You desire for America. May our 
prayers draw us to Your heart. We want this prayer to begin a 
continuous conversation with You throughout this day. Help us to 
listen, discern Your will, and obey with faithfulness. You are our Lord 
and Saviour. Amen.

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