Eternal God, the source, sustainer, and supplier of everything pertaining to life, it is to You that we come this morning. Before You, Who, from nothing, created soil, seas, and skies, and Who established galaxies, groves, and governments, we come. We approach You with gratitude, mindful that as a Nation we have enjoyed Your providential
presence, protection, power, and prosperity. And, for all of our individual and corporate wrongs, we repent and appeal to You for Your mercy.
On behalf of the people of this land, Your appointed men and women assemble at this hour. We are keenly aware of the significance of the
season in which this session convenes. In this season marked by darkness, we need Your light; marked by hatred, we need Your love; by disease, we need Your healing; by death, we need Your comfort; by despair, we need Your hope; by injustice, we need Your justice; and by
lawlessness, Lord, we need Your grace. Grant these leaders the discernment to recognize Your will and the discipline to follow it.
As a melting pot of cultures, languages, ideologies, and faith traditions, help us to coexist in unity while celebrating diversity.
Guard and govern us such that our plurality leads, not to our peril, but to our promise and progress.
Shape the atmosphere for us today to be one that is ripe for robust yet respectful discussion, debate, and decision making, resulting in
legislation that promotes and protects the worth and welfare of each person in our great Nation, and by extension all people throughout the
world, both now and for generations to come.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
“The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.
”
—Reinhold Niebuhr
https://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/protestant/addiction/serenity-prayer.aspx