[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3747]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:
  Gracious Father, beneficent Lord of all mankind, Thou who hast 
blessed our Nation with blessings beyond measure, with gratitude we 
pause in this hallowed place simply to say thank You. Thank You for 
Your presence with us always. Thank You for the joy Your presence 
brings. Thank You even for the challenge and the responsibility which 
is ours by virtue of said blessed presence. Your presence with us 
demands a witness and an example of a demonstration of righteousness, 
love, peace, and justice; so our prayer is that You will also bless us 
to be true to Your cause in all the world.
  Dear Father, bless the women and men of this august body, which 
represents a people so blessed by Thee, to always seek Thy way and Thy 
will as is made clear by Thy word. Bless them in their deliberations to 
purpose always that such seeks Thy face. For, in so doing, ``Thy will, 
will be done in the earth as it is in the heavens.''
  Lord, grant now our Senators the wisdom, courage, and tenacity to 
follow after Thee as they conduct the people's business. Bless them 
always with humility and a servant spirit. Bless them as they work with 
our President and the House of Representatives, for whom we seek Thy 
blessings as well, in the name of Thy beloved Son. Amen.

                          ____________________