The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Opening Prayer

03/16/2026
Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben

Most Holy Lord, we stand in the need of prayer. Too often we claim to be without sin, though our sin is ever before us, and so we pray: Forgive us our debt to Your marvelous mercy in our lives, to the bounty

of grace You have shown us that we could never repay. Pardon us and help us to receive Your unmerited favor with contrite hearts and humble spirits.

Forgive us our trespasses, the way we overstep the boundaries You, in Your love for us, have established to protect us from the dangers our own choices could bring upon us. Bring us back from the consequences of our own decisions and receive us into Your parental embrace.

Forgive us our sins, the countless ways we have offended You, even as we have offended one another. Forgive us the many times we have separated ourselves from Your love, even as we have failed to show Your love to those around us.

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your unfailing love. According to Your compassion, blot out our transgressions. Wash away all our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin.

In your merciful name, we pray. Amen.

Psalm 51:1–2
Luke 11:4
1 John 1:8–9

Thought of the Week

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.

—Helen Keller

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