Reverend John Peter Boonzaaijer
The Chapel of the Cross
Dallas, TX
Sponsor: Rep. Michael C. Burgess, (R-TX)
Date of Prayer: 06/20/2014
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome to Washington our guest pastor in the House today, my friend, my mentor, the Reverend John Peter Boonzaaijer.
Reverend Boonzaaijer and his family are no stranger to adversity. We just celebrated the 70th anniversary of the landing at D–day, and also this fall will be the 70th anniversary of the Dutch famine. Reverend Boonzaaijer's parents lived in the Netherlands at that time and suffered through that event themselves.
Reverend Boonzaaijer was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He moved to Texas in 2002, and he has served the north Texas community in many ways. After serving as a teacher, administrator, and assistant rector of a parish school in Tyler, Texas, Reverend Boonzaaijer began a parish revitalization project in Dallas.
As part of this, he began a new classical school, The Saint Timothy School. He is a reverend of The Chapel of the Cross, a reformed Episcopal church in Dallas, Texas.
Reverend Boonzaaijer teaches upper middle school mathematics and middle school Bible, as well as maintains daily morning and evening prayer with his students, and I understand he prays for the United States Congress daily.
He believes a true parish school has the capacity to endow youth with the wisdom of the ages. Because of his devotion to them, Reverend Boonzaaijer's students are capable, knowledgeable, virtuous, and devout.
In the gallery today, Reverend Boonzaaijer's wife, Christine; his sons, Nathaniel and Detrick; and his daughter, Annalise, have joined us. We welcome them to the House of Representatives.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Almighty and everlasting God, heavenly Father and giver of all good things, we humbly beseech Thee to bless this good land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from confusion, pride, and from every evil way.
Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in Thy name, we entrust the authority of government.
Direct and prosper the consultations of this House to advance Thy kingdom for the safety, honor, and welfare of Thy people, establishing peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, that through obedience to Thy laws we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the Earth, for all generations.
In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail.
All this we ask through the King of glory, our most blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory