[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5395]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord of history and Father of all humanity, as we mark Black History 
Month this year, anxiety gives us much to pray about. Yet we have much 
to celebrate as well.
  The Honorable John Lewis tells a story which may serve as a parable 
for African American history in the United States. On a Sunday 
afternoon, he was one of 15 children who took refuge in Aunt Sevena's 
house because a storm was brewing. As the storm let loose, the house 
began to sway. The wood beneath their feet began to bend. A corner of 
the room started lifting up.
  That was when Aunt Sevena told the children to line up and hold 
hands. Then she had them walk as a group back and forth from kitchen to 
the front of the house toward every corner of the room that was rising. 
Fifteen children were walking with the wind, holding that trembling 
house down from flying to the sky with the weight of their own bodies. 
They had learned that You, Lord, were right in the midst of the storm 
and Your voice could be heard in the thunder.
  Throughout history, Lord, Your presence can be found. Be with this 
House tonight as history is made. Be with us now and forever. Amen.

                          ____________________