Reverend Bradford Braley
First Presbyterian Church
Cedar Falls, IA
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Braley, (D-IA)
Date of Prayer: 07/01/2010
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, it is always a privilege when a member of your district, a constituent, gets to deliver the prayer to open the House day. It's also a rare privilege when that individual happens to be your personal pastor. But, Mr. Speaker, no one knows better than you what a rare privilege it is when that person is also a member of your family.
I am extremely proud to have my brother here to deliver the opening prayer. This is an important week in his life because this is also the 30th anniversary this week of his ordination as a Presbyterian minister. He is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He has also served churches in Nevada and Ida Grove, Iowa. He got his Divinity Degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in my district.
He's been a great role model to me and my family and has been an inspiration to the parish where he has served because of his community leadership, including a very long and strong action in leading the CROP Walk to help take care of needy people throughout this world. For that reason I am honored to have him here today. I appreciated the inspiring remarks he shared with us.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Great and gracious God, we gather today from north and south and east and west as representatives chosen to lead your people.
As we approach the 234th anniversary of the birth of this great nation, we ask you to rekindle the spirit of independence which values and respects each person’s freedom.
Reignite the spirit of unity that overcame sharp differences of opinion to form these United States. Renew a spirit of inter–dependence which seeks the common good of all above personal preferences.
Inspire a sense of awe and wonder at the bountiful resources of this land, and in light of the environmental tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico, may we humbly dedicate ourselves to preserving and protecting those resources. Guide these leaders in their work today, and in the days to come, that our nation’s example of democracy and compassion may be a beacon of hope to all the world.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory