[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord God, You are with us as the 111th Congress takes flight. So 
early in the year, You graciously offer us a prophetic sign. We praise 
You and bless You as the Nation watches You nest so forcibly the steely 
bird in the waters of the Hudson River.
  Standing on wings, our brothers and sisters are carried to safety by 
water bugs of the harbor.
  The sudden wisdom and experience of pilot's crew inspires disciplined 
behavior of women and children first, drowning self-interest items as 
in a momentary baptism. Together, they all come to new life.
  May Your miraculous stories always reassure the faith of Congress and 
the hope of Your people that You are with us both now and forever.
  Amen.

                          ____________________