[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26347]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the following prayer:
  Here is the good news from Zephaniah 3:17:
  ``The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will 
rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with His love, He 
will rejoice over you with singing.''
  Gracious God, on the Monday when we return to our responsibilities of 
completing the work of the Senate before the Christmas recess, we ask 
You to give us an assurance of Your unqualified love, profound peace 
that quiets our hearts, and ears tuned to hear Your song of 
affirmation. We need Your gift of vibrant optimism.
  Our optimism often is like a tea bag: We never know how strong it is 
until we get into hot water. In times of frustration or adversity, our 
optimism is tested. When the wheels of political process grind slowly, 
often we become pessimistic. It is then that we need to hear Your song 
of encouragement. So often we live as if we had to carry the burdens of 
leadership alone. Today we relinquish to You any negative thoughts, 
critical attitudes, or impatient moods. Infuse us with Your hope. Hope 
through us today, O God of hope, so that we will be a lift and not a 
load, a blessing and not a burden. And as the Christmas angels came to 
shepherds at work, come to us as we work for Your glory and the good of 
our Nation. ``Ring out the bells of the kirk; God is down to Earth to 
bless those who work!'' You are our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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