Report From Congress (January 7, 2007)
Report From Congress (January 7, 2007)
WICKER: PRAYER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS EVENTS FOR NEW CONGRESS
The first week of January in each odd-numbered year is a busy time on Capitol Hill with wide-ranging events surrounding the beginning of a new Congress. On January 4, it was my privilege to take the oath of office for a seventh term. Another highlight of the week was attending a prayer service with elected representatives of both political parties.
In a traditional spirit of bipartisanship and cooperation, Republicans and Democrats joined together at this inter-faith event at St. Peter's Catholic Church a few blocks from the U. S. Capitol. The early-morning service on Thursday was an appropriate way to begin our work for the coming two year session. The program included prayer, scripture reading, and uplifting music that featured the national anthem and the powerful hymns, "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace."
SPIRIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP
I was proud to participate in this gathering, which allowed us to set aside political differences and acknowledge that we serve a nation that was founded on strong religious principles. The bipartisan nature of the service was evident with incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer sharing the podium with incoming House Minority Leader John Boehner and Republican Whip Roy Blunt.
Congressman Blunt quoted from a Thomas Jefferson prayer for the nation recited on each day of his presidency and every day thereafter until his death. Its words are as appropriate today as they were two centuries ago. Jefferson said, "We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth."
"MYCHAL'S PRAYER"
House Chaplain Daniel Coughlin offered a prayer that had been a favorite of a colleague who served as a chaplain with the New York City Fire Department. Father Mychal Judge, who died at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, always carried a copy of the prayer with him and used it often in the performance of his duties. It reads:
Lord, tell me where You want me to go,
Let me meet who You want me to meet,
Tell me what You want me to say,
And keep me out of Your way.
This special worship service has become a meaningful event at the start of each new Congress. My hope is that the spirit of unity we shared at St. Peter's Church will serve as a foundation for civil and constructive debate as our two parties seek to do the people's business in the coming two years.
http://www.house.gov/wicker/prayer.htm