[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19590-19591]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Rev. Thomas K. Spence, Jr., Retired Pastor, Presbyterian Church, 
Sanford, North Carolina, offered the following prayer:
  What do You require from us, O Lord? Is it not to do justice, to love 
kindness, and to walk humbly with You? Show us what justice and 
kindness mean in a broken and troubled world, where hunger, violence, 
and oppression are so pervasive. Teach us what it means to be humble in 
a world where we take ourselves too seriously

[[Page 19591]]

and where wisdom and truth are often scorned.
  You gave these men and women such noble intentions when they first 
took the oath of office. Put it into their hearts to be more than good 
Republicans and good Democrats, O Lord. Let them be lovers of justice 
and peace. Do not let them become weary in well doing. Renew their 
strength when they labor long hours. Lift their hearts when they are 
discouraged. When their vision fails, keep before them the ideals that 
have made us a great Nation. Let them be faithful and steadfast in all 
their labors, that Your benediction may rest upon them all. We pray in 
the name of all that is holy.
  Amen.

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