Prayer for the Senate
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff
Guest Chaplain
O Lord who taught us all to love our neighbors as ourselves, we pause now, as this Senate session starts,
to recall that on this day -- in 1881 -- and in this city -- Washington, DC -- Clara Barton and a gorup of
friends founded the American Red Cross.
To love our neighbors as ourselves...and then, to not sit idly by that neighbor's blood -- the suffering that
he or she endures -- without doing what we can to ease the burden and the pain, has been the call to
which so many Red Cross workers have responded since that day, throughout our land; and reaching out
to those who serve in our armed forces overseas--throughout the world, as well.
Almighty God, we give our thanks for those who give their all: who do their best to comfort those in pain.
But we pray as well to be inspired by their work: to understand we all can make a difference in our
neighbors' lives, a difference in our nation's strength, a difference in our world. Help us help one another
do our part ot build the world of peace, the time of joy, for which we pray.
And may we say, Amen.