[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22839]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord of nations and Prince of peace, we pray today for Afghanistan.
  Merciful God, throughout the ages You bring good news to the poor and 
raise up the lowly who turn to You with religious faith. We rejoice 
with the liberation of the Afghan people who have not been humiliated 
but lifted up to new aspirations of peace and security. Guide the many 
factions within this country, that a strong coalition may bring law and 
order to suffering people. As You do here, so in Afghanistan raise up 
true leadership that looks not to positioning or power, but to uniting 
people in doing what is right and what is timely for all.
  We thank You for the safe release of those who were held captive. We 
are one with those who never forgot them in prayer and ask Your just 
reward for those who risked their lives in their escape.
  Lord, our refuge and defense, continue to protect and guide our 
military forces as they seek to create a future for people in the wake 
of bringing terrorists to justice. You have opened our eyes by 
compassion to this rugged terrain and the strengthening independence of 
the Afghan people. Let us never forget them in the winter of this war. 
Match freedom with food and policing with human understanding, for You 
alone measure our success and our life now and forever. Amen.

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