the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me.ur father, who art in heaven, you have taught us how to .

the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. gracious and merciful god, receive our prayers and our purpose for this day. we begin with the best of intentions. renewed by the rest of the weekend. asking your breasting as -- blessing as we tackle the challenges laid before us and the week ahead. hear our prayer that we remain committed to doing the right thing. and bless our desire to bring careful thought to do what is pleasing to you. taking pains to remain true to honest things. true not only in your eyes but in the eyes of the people we serve. in this may we prove faithful to loving you with our whole heart, our soul, and strength and our whole mind. may the work of our hands and intentions of our twoest self serve as worthy proof that our love for our neighbor is no less than that for our own selves. lead us in the living of this day. we play prey in your most holy name. amen. the speaker pro tempore: the chair has examined the journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the house the approval thereof. pursuant to

the prayer will be offered by chap laip kibben. chap labor kibben -- chaplain kkibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. you have been our god forever and have/ delivered us from pel and menace time and time again. not our power or might but only you can uphold us. we confess no other savior than you. neither our wit nor our which is combut yours alone can redeem us. for you have cared for us in our wilderness. you have provided shelter for us in the scorching heat of anxiety and the raging storms that threaten our well-being. deliver then your people from the relentless power of devastation and desolation. after almost two years of fighting for their country and its citizens, redeem the people of ukraine. as we mark the 100th day of an intractable conflict in israel and gaza, bring your peace and justice to this region. may those who are persecuted be rescued from death's sting. may those who have sacrificed so much be spared from the grave's victory. do not hide y them. but speak into the chaos and confusion of this horrific strife and deliverance and then gove

th■çe pr offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me.rd, may we hear yor voice. inspire us not to harden our hearts as we are so often inclined to do. keep us from our quarreling when we find ourselves without answers, without direction. save us from our anger when we areed by demands and doubts and frustrated with misgivings and mistrust. though we test your patience day after day, do notanbandon us, ee turn away from you. but show us how to mend fences n disputes into discussions, to bridge impasses with compassion. and to setaside our irritation■m and yield to your direction. today, o lord, may we hear your voice and set our will and obey your own. in your merciful name we pray. amen. the speaker pro tempore: the airnal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the house the approval thereof. pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journal stands approved. the pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from north carolina, mr. davis. mr. davis: i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic

the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. holy and immorale god, we pause to offer our prayers of gratitude andgraphy for your service representative eddie bernice johnson. words cannot adequately express our appreciation to you for allowing us to share the journey of life with such a woman of perseverance and presence. leadership and legendary impact. thank you for allowing her to touch the lives of so many in both her nursing and political careers. and while we mourn representative johnson's passing with hearts bereft of her friendship and mentorship, and with compassion for her grieving family, in the face of the fragility of life, we do not grieve as those without hope. for we trust in the promise she held dear, that those who have departed this life will be united with you in everlasting glory. meijer memory be a -- may her memory be a blessing and may she be blessed as she rests now from her labor and life-long service to you and to your people. into your everlasting arms we commend our lives and in your eternal name we

the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: will you pray with me? o lord, our lord, how majestic is your name above all the earth. you have set your name above the heavens. we pause to consider the work of your fingers, the moon and stars you have established. let then your divine favor and creative spirit be upon all those who have gathered in these chambers who recommit their time and energy this this new year to their service to you and to this nation. let not one person here boast in their own wisdom. let not the powerful boast in their power. let not those who are rich in wealth or influence boast in their favor. for you alone, in your incorruptibility, are the builder of this house. let not our labor be in vain but let us have reason to boast in our desire to understand and know you. you are the lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. so by our commitment to these same virtues, may you find reason to delight in us. in your mercy we offer our work to you and in your merciful name we pray. amen. the speaker: amen. a call o

the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. holy and

the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. palmist we pray show us your steadfast love, o lord, and grant us your salvation. let us hear what god the lord will speak for god will speak to the people. to those who turn to god in their heart. god of grace and god turn our hearts and minds toward you. in these days of warring madness, bend our pride to your control.n disregard for human life and dignity that scourges our communities our nation our world. shame the selfish gladness for power and domination that plagues all corners of the earth. grant wisdom and courage to those who stand uphe hegemonic overreach in the ukraine. grant wisdom and courage to those who seek fair and peaceful resolution in israel and gaza. in the facing of these hours of discontent and strife, grant us wisdom, grant us courage as we seek to serve you whom we adore. in your sovereign name we pray. amen. the speaker: amen. the chair has examined the journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the house the approval thereof. pursuant to clause

the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. with what can we come before you, o lord, this day? how shall we honor you, o lord, most exalted? shall we come before you with the sacrifice of our time and energy? as proof of our dedication to serve you and the people we have been set apart to represent? will you be pleased with the multitude of our meetings and appointments with the bounty of our hard-earned achievements? what should we lay before you to make up for our mistakes and missteps? how can we possibly atone for the transgressions of our souls? take away all that pliends us from what -- blainds us from what you have -- blinds us from what you have already shown us is good and acceptable in your sight. let us place before you the only sacrifice you require of us. to do what is fair and just in all facets of our lives. to be patient and compassionate, taking the initiative to show kindness, even to those who are hard to be kind to. to humble ourselves, even though we demonstrate that our love -- so that we can demonstrate

the prayer will be by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. eternal god, teach us to number our days. not that we would count down to the next milestone or fear the future ahead of us, but that we would come to value and appreciate the moments you have given us. teach us to number the days of our work, that we would understand that each day matters. the decisions we make, the encounters we have, the privilege we have been given to labor in your vineyard. all that we do contributes to the work to which you have entrusted us. teach us to number the days with our loved ones. that we would seize the opportunity tockven the smallest gesture of love and appreciate the greatest favor you have bestowed on us. to share this life with the precious people we call friends. and the special ones we know as family. teach us to number the days of our lives that we would use our time on earth to appreciate the freedoms you have endowed us. to seek the wisdom you reveal to us. and to demonstrate the mercy and love you have shown us. teach us to number our days

chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. god of light, shine upon us. disperse the deep and hidden things that confound our lives and challenge our days. expose the fear and sadness, doubt, and dishonesty that grow in the shadows. remind us again that not even the darkness can anything be hidden from you. in this season when the shadows lengthen and the night descends quickly upon us, when all around us attempts to extinguish any hope for our future, we pray that your love would dawn upon us. in you there is no darkness at all. in you do we find solace in our uncertainty, calm in our anx anxiety, strength in our weakness. your abiding presence sheds light on our path and illumines our way. enlighten then the eyes of our hearts. awaken the awareness of our spirit that we may know the hope to which you have called us. a hope that is stronger than any enemy. a light brighter than even the shadow of death. in the clarity to be found when we call upon your name we are bold to pray. amen. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 3-c of house resolution 5,

chaplain kibben: would you pray with me. generous god and give of so many blessings, we pause at the final moments of the first year of the 118th congress to acknowledge your steadfast kindness to you -- to us. w in grace you have honored those who served whserved in the office here with wise siders, devoted counsel, countss contributors to the daily function of this body, clerks and recorders, staffers and assistant, laborers and administrators just to name a few. may each who has contributed so selflessly to the inner workings of this legislative process receive your n well-done in appreciation for their noble and faithful service throughout this past yr. indeed, many hands have laid the foundation for this congress, and we pray for your continued blessing that we should see our work completed. as we reflect on the many accomplishments, large and small, which have brought us pride and reward this year, remind us once again that it is not by might n by power that we succeed, but by your spirit. in this may we be assured tha

the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. chaplain kibben: would you pray with me.ur father, who art in heaven, you have taught us how to pray. with this familiar prayer or the prayers that reside in our souls, we offer these prayers to you. however we approach you we pray that you will accept our manner of worship as holy and ceeven as you receive us in the multitude of languages and the range of voices that ascend to your hearing, you teach us also how to love. commanding us to love one another even as you have loved us with all our strengths and shortfall gifts and gaffes. differences and divisions. on this day■i which 238th anniversary of the passage of the virginia statute for religious freedom, authored by thomas jefferson, may it not be law but love that compels us to safeguard the freedom of religion for our fellow citizens. may it not be statute but stewardship of your grace that cause us to honor the principles of the first amendment, respecting faith of all peoples. remind us again that we owe no one anyth@4ing but to love one another. and as we love one

the speaker pro tempore: the prayer will be offered by chaplain kibben. the chaplain: would you play with me? eternal lord from eveasting to many are the plans of our hearts but yours is the eternal purpose that prevails. receive then our ernest and most heartfelt praye as we enter into this second session of the 118th congress. you have set eternit in our hearts and we yearn to find of ourands. purpose in the work receive our labors and sanctify our intentions. may all that we set forth to do prove worthy of your gracious and eternal plan. scripture warns some trust in chariots and some in horses. all too often we trust in the perishable and corruptible. but this year in all that lies ahead, may we place our trust only in the name of the lord our god. are bold to pray, amen. name we the speaker pro tempore: amen. the chair will lead the house in the pledge of allegianc flog flog -- and to the republic r which it stands, one nation under god, and to the replic for which it stands, one nation under god, indisible, with liberty and justice for all. the spea

the speaker pro mpore: the prayer will be offered b chaplain kibben. the chaplain: would you pray with me? as we observe hocaust weekend we recall the haunting sentiments of ali wezel. never shall i forget the long nights in camp, the smoke, the small face of children whose bodiesere transformed under a silent sky. neveshall i forget those moments that murdered my soul and turned myream to ashes. holy and merciful god, cause us to gua our souls carefullily, lest we forget the testimony our ears have heard from those who survived this evil attack on humanity. never let tse heinous memories depart from our heart lest we forget the horror of those many lives were cut short byso tred but let us make them known to our children and our children's children that we will hold ourselves aountable to the consequence of our moral failures.■' our disregard for hn dignity, of our negligence in defending their right toaith may we never forget and foreswear our prejudices and fight against the humanity that endure this is day. we offer our prayer calling on your mercy