Reverend Robert Dillingham
Farina United Methodist Church
Farina, IL
Sponsor: Rep. John Shimkus, (R-IL)
Date of Prayer: 03/29/2017
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Reverend Robert Dillingham who led us in the opening prayer. He is a pastor in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church where he serves Farina, Illinois.
Reverend Dillingham is both a chaplain and a volunteer firefighter with the Farina Fire Department and is also a chaplain with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, division 54. He serves as a hospice chaplain with the Hospital Sisters Health Systems through St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois, where he serves patients from over 20 counties in the central part of my congressional district.
In addition to his service as chaplain, Reverend Dillingham is also on the board of the Farina food pantry and is a clergy care guide, where he is a pastoral presence in the lives of over 70 pastors.
It is my honor to welcome Reverend Dillingham and his wife, Ashley, who is in the gallery today, and personally thank him for offering this morning's prayer.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Creator of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we come to You as broken vessels, called to Your holy task of governance. Be with the families of these gathered, build up, equip, protect, and empower all to the task before them this day.
Bring together through Your spirit those who are divided, and those who divide. Bring healing, bring unity, as You continually offer healing and hope to all of creation.
Omnipresent Creator, You have guided creation through the most difficult times. You have called us to this time and to this place, to this activity, to this body. We have followed that calling.
Now guide us, empower us, embolden us to this holy work of service and representation of Your creation. Guide us, O great Jehovah. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory