[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7749]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The Reverend George E. Battle, Bishop, North Eastern Episcopal 
District, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Charlotte, North 
Carolina, offered the following prayer:
  God, we thank You for this wonderful day and this historic occasion. 
Thank You for our wonderful Nation and all those who represent us in 
the Congress of the United States of America.
  You continually give us the opportunity to start anew so we celebrate 
this magnificent collection of leaders who will help pilot this Nation. 
Please give our Congress the wisdom to do what is right and not be 
driven by what is expedient. Give them the discretion to not be 
threatened by wise counsel or constructive criticism.
  In the face of this magnificent occasion, God, continue to not only 
endow and bolster our Representatives, but give us the understanding to 
know that we play a crucial part in whether or not our leadership will 
be successful.
  Bless the brave men and women of our armed services and their 
families. God bless America, her leaders and her people. Amen.

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