Senate Prayer
May 19, 2003
Guest Chaplain
Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff
O Lord who hears our prayers,
as this session now begins, and before the leaders here debate the
issues they confront, and with which our country and our people
struggle, we begin united, united with a prayer: a reminder that,
even as we disagree on one course of action or the next, we do so
in pursuit of common prayers and dreams--liberty, dignity, and
freedom--that unite us all.
We sometimes call this starting prayer an invocation, but it is not
your presence we invoke, for you are always with us, no matter
where we are or where we go--as we soar on eagles wings toward
heaven; as we search the deepest reaches of the sea; or as we
seek to balance responsibility and right through the actions taken
here in the halls of congress; we know we find your hand.
Instead, it is awareness of your presence that we call forth, that
we invoke: a reminder of a plan or dream in which we might play
a part; a promise of a better world, a better time, a time of peace
and justice, that we might help to build. May your presence touch
our lives and help shape our words so that we might find the
wisdom and the courage to do our part to keep those prayers and
dreams alive, and help make our prayers and dreams come true.
And may we say, Amen.