[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11310]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am delighted that our opening prayer 
this morning was so eloquently delivered by the Reverend Ken Dutille of 
Swans Island Atlantic Baptist Church in my home State of Maine. It is a 
great pleasure to welcome him to the Senate today. In fact, as he 
offered the invocation in this Chamber 11 years ago, on October 18, 
1995, it is a pleasure to welcome him back to the Senate today.
  Pastor Dutille's words give direction and purpose to our work. His 
actions also inspire us; they are a vivid reminder of the commitment 
and compassion that exists among people of faith throughout our Nation.
  His ministry is truly unique. His church is joined with churches on 
three other islands to form the Maine Sea Coast Mission. This 
nondenominational organization was founded more than a century ago to 
provide spiritual guidance and educational opportunities to the remote 
seafaring communities of Downeast Maine. In its early years, the 
mission's boat, which was called Hope, would deliver a minister to 
isolated island communities where there were no churches and books 
where there were no libraries.
  Today, the Sunbeam V not only continues that vital work, but it also 
serves as a mobile health clinic bringing medical services--including 
screenings, inoculations, and telemedicine--to four islands that 
otherwise would not have access to medical services.
  Pastor Dutille is the founder of another outstanding mission project, 
the Bread of Life Food Pantry on Swans Island. The food pantry is often 
all that stands between the pangs of hunger and a healthy meal for some 
people in this disadvantaged area of my State. Although the demands 
upon the food pantry are always considerable, they increased 
exponentially this last July when the only grocery store on Swans 
Island was destroyed by fire. The pastor and the rest of the mission 
community immediately rose to the challenge with a major fundraising 
campaign. The power of God was evident in their strength of purpose as 
they responded to this crisis.
  The pastor is a fisher of people and a person of many 
accomplishments. He is a graduate of the Baptist Bible College in 
Springfield, MO, as well as of the University of Maine. He holds a 
master's degree from the California Graduate School of Theology. He has 
served in churches throughout Maine and has preached throughout New 
England. He is a published author, too, and a successful small business 
owner. He has also had experience that all of us can relate to. In a 
previous community, he served as a town selectman, so he has a keen 
understanding of the challenges of public service, as his opening 
prayer demonstrated today.
  It is a great pleasure to have such a dedicated spiritual and civic 
leader with us today and giving the opening prayer. I am sure I speak 
for all of my colleagues in extending him a warm welcome and in giving 
thanks for his inspiring prayer.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

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