The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Larry R. Hayward

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Alexandria, VA

Sponsor: Rep. Fred Upton, (R-MI)
Date of Prayer: 03/15/2006

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear Dr. Larry Hayward give our opening prayer this morning. For some 25 years, he has been preaching and teaching. His journey has taken him from Texas to Iowa to the D.C. area. Now he is the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a church that my wife and I attend when we are here in Washington.

He is a graduate of Union Seminary in New York. In his personal life, he certainly has a love and respect for history, government and sports, but it is also clear that the Lord comes first.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

God of nations, among rulers you placed over your people, King Hezekiah of Judah was among the strongest. He instituted reforms. He recaptured lost land. So pleased were you with his leadership you extended his life seventeen years beyond a near–fatal illness.

Yet at the end of his life, Hezekiah succumbed to cynicism. "Who cares about the days to come," he said to himself, "as long as there is peace and security in my day?"

Lord, save each member of this body from similar cynicism. Instill within members concern not only for our own day, but for days to come. Lift vision beyond the next election, beyond party caucus, sometimes even beyond constituent mail so that this branch – and all branches – of our government may focus on the shape of our nation and its place in the world for generations to come.

Amen.

To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory