[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16615]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 PRAYER

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Today's opening prayer will be offered by Dr. 
Calvin V. French, Pastor Emeritus, Community of Christ Church, in 
Washington, DC.
  The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:
  Shall we pray.
  Almighty God, we come as children in our Father's house, asking that 
we may envision the same spirit of our Founding Fathers--that we are 
one nation under God. May this oneness of spirit and purpose prevail 
that our legislation will be seamless.
  The challenges we face are difficult, but we turn to You asking for 
wisdom to interpret rightly the signs of our times. Through our prayer, 
O God, in our search for understanding, we repeat our solemn oath of 
office: ``So help me God.''
  We remember those who have served in this Chamber and will soon be 
leaving. Grant to them peace of mind, joyful hearts, and hallowed 
memories, reminding them that when they were in the service of their 
fellow beings, they have been doing Your work.
  In this Advent season, may we be comforted by the words of Isaiah 
9:6, ``The government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall 
be called Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, 
the Prince of Peace.'' May this counsel guide us as we do our work this 
day. Amen.

                          ____________________