To serve as Chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives is truly an honor and a privilege. To be both a minister of the Lord and an officer serving the United States government responds to a twofold call to serve others and offer prayer that unites Heaven and Earth.
With 435 Members in the House and their staffs, plus all the other wonderful people who serve here with committee work or in the Chamber, including teenage Pages, my pastoral duties are many and varied. My goal is to meet the needs of this working community on a personal level. The problems that weigh on hearts and the confusion that at times blocks clarity of thinking become my concerns.
The formal prayer before each legislative session of Congress, and even before days of pro forma sessions, casts a light on the day that awakens faith and calls forth a nation to stand with its leaders and affirm: “In God We Trust.” But daily prayer for the Members of the House cannot end there.
I ask people across this great country to join me in praying for the Members of the House of Representatives. Know the Member of your congressional district by name and raise his or her name before God each day with us here in the nation’s capital.
Pray for me, also, that I may be always rooted in prayer and a good instrument for accomplishing God’s holy will here. Only by being free in the Spirit can I serve all the people here, regardless of their faith persuasion or denomination. Only by listening attentively to each person can I offer good counsel, encouragement, and gentle correction.
Thank you for your interest in and support of the Members of the House.
Lord God our life–long Teacher, Lawgiver and Guide we praise You and bless You for all those who are a part of the education and spiritual formation of the children of this nation.
May parents, teachers and school administrators be the best teachers both by what they say and by the way they live.
Inspire children to be industrious and responsible in their school work. Grant our young people determination and perseverance especially when the subject matter they face seems complex or difficult.
May those in higher education aspire to be good and even great leaders in the future. May they seek every opportunity to investigate, to learn and to excel.
Make their homes true schools of love and their classrooms true adventures in learning more about their character and about the world in which they live. By their endeavors and advancements, Lord, may they give You honor and glory now and forever.
Amen.
“I hope that God will supply for everything and I feel a confidence in his divine Providence which keeps me above all troubles. So I remain calm and in peace in the midst of a thousand worries and complicates in which I should have expected, naturally speaking, to be overwhelmed.
. . .
Let us accept everything from the hand of our good Father, and he will keep us in peace in the midst of the greatest disasters of this world, the fashion of which passes away in a flash. Our life will be holy and tranquil in proportion as we trust in God and abandon ourselves to him. Without that self abandonment, this is no solid virtue, no sure repose.
”
—Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J.
Abandonment to Divine Providence
Members and staff are invited to join Chaplain Coughlin each Wednesday at 11:00 am to pray the Rosary in H–234, the Congressional Prayer Room.
Praying the Rosary is a way to reflect on the life of Christ through the perspective of Mary. It only takes twenty minutes for this traditional time of prayer.
We welcome all who are interested, those who regularly pray the Rosary and those who wish to learn. We have prayer sheets and rosaries available.
If you have any questions, please call Karen Bronson in the Chaplain's Office at 6–4835. Or email Karen.Bronson@mail.house.gov
Sponsored by the Office of the Chaplain.
The Congressional Prayer Room is located off the Capitol Rotunda. When in the Rotunda, go through the doorway flanked by Lincoln, Grant and the POW flag. H–234 is on the left.
Location for 12/11 – SD–106
Led by the Senate Chaplain, Dr. Barry Black. Open
to Congressional Members and Staff. Lunch is
provided.
For more information, contact Lisa Wink Schultz in the Senate Chaplain's Office – 4–2510
Beginning on Friday, Jan 8th, Capitol Hill Jummah will take place in the Congressional Visitor Center, Room HVC–215.
Open to Congressional Members, Staff and general public.
For more information contact J. Saleh Williams at saleh.williams@mail.house.gov
Please join us to pray the Rosary in the Ford building at 11:45 am.
All are welcome... rosaries and prayer sheets are provided.
Contact Karen.Bronson@mail.house.gov in the Chaplain's Office for more information.
This Week's Rabbi: Rabbi David Rose (Conservative)
This Week's Parsha: Parashat Beshalach – uscj.org/Beshalah_57708249.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beshalach
Light Lunch will be provided. Dietary laws observed.
Please forward to any colleagues on or off the Hill you think would be interested.
Note: Parsha and Commentary links are for your information. You are not expected to have read the parsha prior to the study session.
On Facebook at: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=273548164077
CJSA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45639097495
Sponsored by the Congressional Jewish Staff Association.
Tom_Jones@commerce.senate.gov
This Week's Rabbi: Rabbi Herzfeld w/ Ohev Sholom (Orthodox)
This Week's Parsha: – www.ouradio.org/ouradio/channel/parshat_vaeira_–_rabbi_weinreb/ Parashat Va’eira
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Va%27eira
Light Lunch will be provided. Dietary laws observed.
Please forward to any colleagues on or off the Hill you think would be interested.
Note: Parsha and Commentary links are for your information. You are not expected to have read the parsha prior to the study session.
On Facebook at: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=248079233122
CJSA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45639097495
Please join us to pray the Rosary in the Ford building on Friday, January 8 at 11:45 am in room 108.
All are welcome – rosaries and prayer sheets will be provided.
Sponsored by the Office of the Chaplain. Contact karen.bronson@mail.house.gov for more information.
Celebrate Chanukah with Chaplain Black, Rabbi Robinson and Senate staff
Exodus 15:11 "Who is like you O' Eternal among the gods"*
Were the Israelites ever monotheists?
*This verse in Hebrew "Mi Chamocha Ba'elin YHWH", provides the popular etymology for the name "Maccabees"
With Rabbi Robinson
Thursday, December 17th, 1:00–2:00, S–120 in the Capitol
Kosher lunch will be provided
Parsha Vayeshev
Rabbi David Rose – Conservative
No advance preparation necessary.
Please share this invite with a friend (on or off the Hill) and ask them to join us.
Lunch will be served – dietary laws observed.
www.uscj.org/Vayeshev_57708178.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayeshev
CJSA on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45639097495
Join Chaplain Coughlin for his annual Advent reflection:
"The Incarnation and Human Limitations"
on Monday, December 7 at 12 Noon in HC–6.
RSVP to karen.bronson@mail.house.gov
Sponsored by the Office of the Chaplain
Rabbi Jessica Oleon – Temple Sinai (Reform)
No advance preparation necessary.
Please share this invite with a friend and ask them to join us.
Congressional Jewish Staffers Association on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45639097495
tom_jones@commerce.senate.gov
Please join us to pray the Rosary in the Ford Building on Friday, December 4 at 11:45 am.
All are welcome, especially those new to the Rosary. Prayer sheets and rosaries are provided.
This brief (20 minute) time of prayer focuses our meditation on the events in the life of Christ. Our prayer intentions include Members of Congress, their families, and congressional staff.
Sponsored by the Office of the Chaplain. For more information contact Karen 6–4835 or Karen.Bronson@mail.house.gov