The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Opening Prayer

03/15/2024
Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben

Every good and perfect gift comes from You, O God, and in Your eternal plan, which is far wiser than our own, with vision far broader than we can possibly imagine, You have gifted each one of us uniquely, according to Your grace.

To some You have given the ability to speak, to utter Your Word into the noise of this world. May those who have been so graced be faithful to Your message of love and mercy.

Some You have equipped with the ability to help, to serve those in need. May they do so revealing the beneficence that comes from Your spirit.

To others You have granted the ability to teach, to make clear the lessons You would have us learn. May those who teach prove worthy of this noble calling.

There are those who are truly blessed to be able to offer a word of encouragement, to know exactly what to say in a moment of sorrow or stress. Likewise, there are others who have the facility to give to those who are in want. May each do so with the generosity that reflects Your own mercy.

May those You have called to leadership do so with both the purpose and the passion that is grounded in and inspired by their love for You.

All good gifts around us come from Heaven above. We thank You, Lord, for trusting us to use them wisely.
Our prayers are offered in Your name. May You be glorified through them.  Amen.

Thought of the Week

Peace comes when there is no cloud between our lives and God. Peace is the consequence of forgiveness, God’s removal of that which obscures His face, and [so] breaks union with Him. The happy sequence culminating in fellowship with God is penitence, pardon, and peace – the first we offer, the second we accept, and the third we inherit.  

—Charles H. Brent

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