Wicker: Prayer Service Sets Tone for New Congress
WICKER: PRAYER SERVICE SETS TONE FOR NEW CONGRESS
REPORT FROM CONGRESS
By Congressman Roger F. Wicker
January 10, 2005
The new Congress convened on January 4th in an atmosphere of good will and bipartisanship. In addition to the honor of being sworn-in for a sixth term, a highlight of the day for me was the bipartisan prayer service held at a Lutheran church on Capitol Hill.
Republicans and Democrats gathered for the early-morning service to participate in songs, scripture reading, prayer, and reflection about the enormous responsibilities we will undertake in the coming two years.
SERVICE IS A TRADITION
The worship service has become an important part of the ceremonies associated with the beginning of each new Congressional session. Political ideology was of no consequence as Representatives from both parties took time to acknowledge that our nation is anchored in moral and religious principles.
A Jewish member of Congress read a passage from the Old Testament; a Christian member read from the New Testament. House Speaker Dennis Hastert led the group in The Lord's Prayer. Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi read passages from the Bible. Other members recited a litany of prayers for our nation, President Bush, Members of Congress and their families, our constituents, and the victims of war and the Pacific tsunami. One prayer asked that "the work of the 109th Congress touch the deepest needs of this nation." Another asked that "the principles of the Constitution and honest, civil debate, enlighten the conscience of this Congress."
DO NOT ABANDON FAITH
Indiana Congressman Mark Souder spoke eloquently about the Judeo-Christian principles on which our country was founded and urged members not to abandon faith "at the door of the House floor." He made a convincing point that we as lawmakers should not forget that the United States was at its inception, and remains today, a religious nation. These beliefs serve as a strong foundation for our legal, economic, military and political systems.
Rep. Souder recounted examples of social change in American history-from child labor laws to worker protections to civil rights-that were driven by individuals with deeply committed religious beliefs. He said it would be wrong to take religion out of the public arena. Doing so "would leave us with the mean-spirited, survival-of-the-fittest, social Darwinism of evolution." He noted that democracy without a moral people who respect each other's rights will fail and quoted from former president John Adams: "Our Constitution is made for a moral and religious people."
RECESSIONAL HYMN
The recessional hymn, "God of our Fathers," written by Daniel C. Roberts in 1876, provided a fitting and inspirational end to the service. I felt that the words to the second stanza were particularly appropriate for the occasion:
"Your love divine has led us in the past, In this free land by you our lot is cast; Be our strong ruler, guardian, guide, and stay, Your word our law, your paths our chosen way."
http://www.house.gov/wicker/Tone.htm