The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Opening Prayer

04/29/2026
Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben

God of light, the psalmist reminds us that it is you who ignites the light within us. You, O Lord our God, light up our darkness.

As refrains of King Charles III's speech still linger in this room, impress on our hearts this statement of profound faith, "Light has triumphed over darkness." Let us then claim our own faith in your promise that you will lead the unsighted in ways they have not known; along familiar paths you will guide them. You turn darkness into light before us.

In view of your promise, remind us of our duty to foster
compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding, and to value all people. And as
daunting as these tasks may seem, may we be intentional, focused, brave, and sacrificial in our efforts to punch holes in the darkness that dares to overwhelm us.

Make us bearers of your light. That all may know that when our lives are lived by our faith in you, there is no darkness at all.

In you sovereign name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 18:28, Isaiah 42:16, 1 John 1:5

Thought of the Week

There is no patent recipe for getting good citizenship. You get it by applying the old, old rules of decent conduct, the rules in accordance with which decent men have had to shape their lives from the beginning… fundamental precepts put forth in the Bible and embodied consciously or unconsciously in the code of morals of every great and successful nation from antiquity to modern times.

—Theodore Roosevelt

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