[Page H1597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  Reverend Jonathan Slavinskas, St. Bernard's Church of Our Lady of 
Providence Parish, Worcester, Massachusetts, offered the following 
prayer:
  Eternal Word, we come to You with praise and thanksgiving for the 
many blessings that You bestow upon us. We thank You for the blessings 
of our faith, freedom, and Nation.
  As we gather, we do so rejoicing, giving thanks for being able to 
live in a nation that provides us with the opportunity to freely elect 
the women and men within this assembly who have been called to assist 
in guiding our Nation.
  Our prayer is that, through the Members of this assembly's diverse 
and unique gifts and talents that You have bestowed upon them, they 
might be woven together as one, continually championing the common good 
for all within our Nation.
  We pray that, in moments of disagreements and debate, an authentic 
understanding and mutual respect might prevail, bearing witness to the 
gift of collaboration for the promotion of the common good.
  We pray for Your continual blessings to flow upon this assembly and 
the works that come forth, and we pray for all of those who have been 
affected by illness and disease that they may find healing and comfort 
in this time of uncertainty.
  We pray for all of this in Your name.
  Amen.

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