Congress Prays in Time of Crisis

Our nation has relied on prayer since before we became the USA. In times of trial especially, prayer is a comfort, a hope for guidance, and perhaps a hope that the Lord will help our side more than the "bad guys'" side. (As Lincoln said, both the Union and Confederacy prayed to the same God.)

About a year ago Washington, D.C. was shocked by a fatal commuter train crash. Not surprisingly, the opening prayer for Congress asked for comfort in the aftermath. Here is the Chaplain's prayer from June 23, 2009, given by Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin:

Lord the summer solstice has already passed.
So quietly and relentlessly daylight grows shorter.
The full expression of family joy on a weekend holiday or a brief summer vacation is abruptly ended with the news of a Metro train crash. The bright light is suddenly dimmed when the cloud of fragile life passes by.

Lord, we lift up in prayer all those who died or were injured in yesterday’s tragedy here in Northeast Washington. Be with their families, neighbors and friends.

As You restore confidence and peace to the fragile systems of routine in our work–a–day world, Lord, we bless You and praise You for all of the good days and the good times, we try to hold onto as best we can, because they carry us through the times that are not so good.

Lord of the ages, it is You who hold all together and oversee the seasons of everyone’s life, even as summer days grow shorter. Both now and forever. Amen.

Found on the website of the Chaplain of the U.S. House