[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Page 28872]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The hour of 12 noon having arrived and the 
Senate having been in continuous session since Wednesday, pursuant to 
the order of the Senate on February 29, 1960, the Senate will suspend 
while the Chaplain offers a prayer.
  Today's prayer will be offered by our guest Chaplain, Rev. Leroy 
Gilbert, Pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Washington, DC.
  The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:
  Eternal God, the God of grace and glory, the God whose giving knows 
no ending, the God who stretched the spangled heavens and made us 
speechless at the sight of His magnificent handiworks, we pause to 
invoke Your blessing upon our Nation, our Senators, and all those who 
serve them.
  Lord, we pray that the work of this Body will equip every household 
in America with the resources to build strong and stable families. We 
pray that the Senators' tireless efforts will enable the people of 
America to stand strong for the principles that undergird our rights, 
liberties, and the pursuit of happiness. We pray, when citizens observe 
how this Senate conducts the business of our Nation, they will be 
inspired by how those from different political parties can work 
together to achieve a common purpose for the good of America.
  As one Nation under God, may we always be protected by Your divine 
promises as recorded in Chapter 54 of Isaiah, which declares: ``This is 
the heritage of the servants of God . . . no weapon formed against you 
shall prosper . . . tyranny and terror will be far from you . . . 
whoever attacks you will surrender to you.'' To You, Almighty God who 
assures the faithful, ``I will make your way prosperous and you shall 
have good success,'' we pray. Amen.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. In my capacity as the Senator from Alaska, 
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________