[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22279]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Reverend Vincent A. Cummings, Chaplain, Captain, United States 
Air Force Reserve, Nashville, Tennessee, offered the following prayer:
  Father, we gather here today as public servants, assembled 
collectively inside this, the United States House of Representatives. 
Use us as instruments of Your will. We thank You for the life, health, 
wisdom and love You have bestowed upon our Nation.
  First, we ask that You confer upon us, whether rich or poor in 
spirit, Your most holy traits of mercy and humility. Place a burden on 
the hearts of these legislators for those who have the least. Let them 
constantly remember their duties to their citizens, but most of all, 
those who are the meekest: the homeless, the poor, and the oppressed. 
Anoint these great men and women to also be protectors of the future, 
our children, and never allow them to forsake their well-being for the 
interests of the present.
  Continue also to develop the tenets of selfless service and honorable 
character in all of us, as we serve this great country as its leaders. 
Teach us to do what is right for all time, not what is acceptable for 
the moment at hand. Let us also remember that freedom is not free. As 
witnessed through our Nation's recently shed blood, a price was paid 
for the liberty we now enjoy. Show us that Your grace must coincide 
with the justice we diligently pursue. Never again let us have words 
and promises take the place of deeds and actions.
  Finally, hold us accountable to a higher standard when our personal 
judgment takes place. Examine us upon what we did to make these, our 
United States of America, a better place for all. Peer into our hearts 
and see the humility, the grace, and the courage to have made the best 
decisions for those we serve. But, most of all, judge us on how well we 
loved our brothers and sisters, the citizens of the United States of 
America, through our acts as their servant leaders.
  May God continue to bless all of you, the elected representatives of 
the House, and may God continue to bless these, our United States of 
America. Amen.

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