Reverend Ted A. Hartley
Farina United Methodist Church
Farina, IL
Sponsor: Rep. Hon. John Shimkus, (R-IL)
Date of Prayer: 05/17/2006
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
(Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Reverend Ted Hartley , Senior Pastor of Farina, Illinois United Methodist Church as today's guest chaplain.
Rev. Hartley is a native of McLeansboro, Illinois and served as a pastor for 14 years. In addition to serving in towns such as East Peoria, Charleston, Virden and Abingdon, Illinois, Rev. Hartley has also preached the gospel in places such as Zimbabwe, Moscow, throughout Europe, Japan and China.
He has been an outspoken and integral advocate for fostering race relations and ecumenical work. Rev. Hartley is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and is a well–known Salukis fan. He attended seminary at Garrett Evangelical and Methodist Theological School in Ohio.
Accompanying him today is his son, Chris, an 18–year–old college student who is poised to become a future American Idol with his band Noxious, as well as Matthew Metcalf.
I am honored to have Rev. Hartley share his prayer with us today, and thank Father Coughlin for giving him and Farina, Illinois an opportunity of a lifetime.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
O Gracious and Loving Creator God, we exist by your power and we exist for your glory. Bring justice to our courts, wisdom to our government, guidance to our schools and love to our homes. Inspire the minds of all persons to whom you have committed the responsibility of government and leadership in our country. Give to them the vision of truth and justice, that by their counsel, all nations and people may work together. Give to our government passion for justice and strength of self–control, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will. Thank you, God, for the balance of our legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, and the women and men who serve this great nation with love and dedication. Bless us, God, but as you bless us, may we be a blessing to others. All honor and glory is yours, now and forever.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory