House Blessing

Thanks to my family and friends, many of you are aware that I was in Washington, D.C. last Tuesday (March 25, 2014) to offer the opening prayer for the House of Representatives. This honor came my way through the efforts of my friend, Congressman Denny Heck, along with the Chaplain of the House, Fr. Pat Conroy, S.J. If you'd like to read about it, you can find a story and a short video at Olympian pastor opens U.S. House with prayer. This was truly the experience of a lifetime for me and I will be reflecting on it in more detail in the next several weeks. If you're interested in the prayer, here it is.

Holy One,

We know you in an infinite variety of ways.  By whatever name we call you, you are the One in whom we live and move and have our being.

We ask your blessing upon the members of this House as they carry on the business of our nation at this critical time in our history. 

Give them courage in the face of immense challenges, a spirit of cooperation despite their differences, and trust in your divine guidance as they work together for the common good.

When the path ahead is unclear, remind them that throughout the ages, your prophets and holy ones have shown us what is good; that you require nothing more of us —and nothing less—than to do justice, to have compassion for one another, and to walk humbly with you, the beginning and the end of all things.

Amen