[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 19993]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord God, the work of Congress is a human endeavor, like the work of 
any farmer, salesperson, or artisan. As a human work, it suffers from 
human limitations; but it is also the embodiment of the greatness of 
human expression.
  Because the work of Congress is the work of a group of people, it 
takes on a broader dimension and entails the efforts of dialogue and 
debate, as well as compromise and consensus.
  Because the work of Congress, Lord, is also the work of government in 
this great democracy, it reflects the will of the people and needs the 
compliance and acceptance of the people of this Nation. Then the work 
of Congress guides, structures, and empowers the workforce of the 
Nation.
  As Congress prepares for summer break, we ask You, Lord God, to bless 
all the work of this session of the 108th Congress of the United States 
of America. We also ask You to bless all the workers who have labored 
on this legislation here on Capitol Hill.
  May this work become a blessing for this Nation; and may the Members 
of Congress and all who assist them in their efforts be rewarded for 
serving You by serving this Nation. All has been undertaken in Your 
holy name. Amen.

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