[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5370]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:
  Please pray with me.
  Gracious God, from whom all blessings do flow, we give thanks for the 
opportunity of this new day and the power and possibility within it to 
do what is noble, trustworthy, and true. We pause to center ourselves 
upon the importance of this present moment, upon our calling.
  May Your spirit of wisdom and discernment descend upon this body as 
they seek to govern with justice and care. Grant them wisdom and 
courage as they meet the challenges of our time, knowing they are Your 
stewards of a democracy and servants of a people. May their decisions 
answer Your eternal call to guard the dignity of each person, to ensure 
freedom for all people, and to strive tirelessly for the common good, 
for it is in our living beyond ourselves that we find the greatest 
meaning and deepest expression of our faith.
  Truly, on this day, may Your grace be upon this Senate, our Senators, 
their staffs, those who work tirelessly in support of this Chamber, as 
well as their families. And may Your grace be upon our Nation--diverse, 
gifted, and united in our affirmation of life and liberty, happiness 
and peace.
  For this we pray. Amen.

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