Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or the world was brought forth, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
In light of Your eternity, we apprehend all too quickly our finitude. We realize how quickly our days pass, even more so when one of our own friends or loved ones come rapidly to the end of the life You have given them.
Such is this day for us as we grieve our friend and colleague, Representative Gerry Connolly, for his was a life that kept on giving. With his unquenchable passion, his unfading whimsical spirit, Gerry Connolly exuded a sense of perpetual persistence to get things done.
Thank You for his unwavering testimony of justice and mercy, equity and compassion. May his legacy of geniality and gentle gibing spark in us the desire to pay forward his lust for life and his love for Your people.
While we may miss the green ties, the Boston brogue, his blarney, and his bluster, we know that his family and friends will want for that much more. Give them comfort in their sorrow and solace in Your steadfast and abiding love in their grief.
Teach us all to number our days. But even as the grass withers and the flowers fade, may we find strength knowing that the word of the Lord endures forever.
In Your eternal name, we offer our prayers this day. Amen.
It behooves us also to render unto God the things that are His, namely, body, soul, and will. For Caesar’s coin is in the gold, in which his image was portrayed; but God’s coin is man, on which the Divine image is stamped; give therefore your money to Caesar, but preserve a conscience void of offence for God.
—St. Hilary
The Interfaith Staff Prayer Room is open for congressional staff to use for personal prayer and meditation. For questions – email StaffPrayerRoom@mail.house.gov