[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9724]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  Reverend Dr. Joe Pool, First United Methodist Church, Rockwall, 
Texas, offered the following prayer:
  Loving God, creator of all things, author of all life, and giver of 
all grace, You have brought us to this time through the blessings of 
Your hand, and we remember that we do not work alone, serve without 
Your spirit, or act without Your guidance.
  Open Your heart to us as we depend on You for wisdom beyond 
ourselves, discernment that fulfills the cry of need, and strength for 
the challenges we face.
  May we be about Your work of justice and mercy, security and peace, 
comfort and provision. Forgive us our shortcomings. Create in us Your 
will and way. Write these upon our hearts so that we might serve You as 
we serve Your people.
  We invoke the recognition of Your sustaining and guiding presence at 
today's session and beyond. Accomplish in us the work of Your hands. 
May we be worthy of all that is entrusted to us this day.
  In Your most holy name we pray. Amen.

                          ____________________