[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7272]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  Pastor Mark Turner, South Valley Community Church, Gilroy, 
California, offered the following prayer:
  Heavenly Father, what an incredible honor it must be for these men 
and women gathered in this Chamber today to represent the entire 
population of this country. I pray that they would not only feel the 
magnitude of this responsibility, but that You would give them the 
strength of character to carry out that responsibility in an honorable 
and Christ-like way.
  I pray, too, for the guardians of freedom on duty today all around 
the globe, the men and women of our Armed Forces. May You sustain them 
and keep them safe. May we as a Nation never forget the tremendous 
sacrifice they have made on our behalf to ensure our freedom and 
democracy.
  May it be upon these Members of this House that the lantern of hope 
and the light of liberty continue to burn bright in this land we call 
America.
  Finally, Lord, it is with heavy hearts that we stand here today, each 
one of us assembled in this Chamber pray for the families in Oklahoma 
who have been affected by the devastating tornado that struck 
yesterday. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, strengthen rescue 
workers and emergency personnel, and may neighbor reach out to neighbor 
to assist in the healing and rebuilding process.
  As the eyes of the world are upon the residents of Oklahoma, let them 
demonstrate dependence upon You and help them to display the 
resilience, the resolve, and the American spirit that made their State 
and this Nation so great.
  We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

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