Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=57664
open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedicationDate: 2024-08-23
Last Updated: 2025-03-29
Categories: 🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies
Tags: 118th Congress, 21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., American Jewry of the United States, English vernacular prayer, U.S. House of Representatives
Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 23 August 2024. . . .
Contribute a translation | Source (English) |
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Almighty God,
August recalls war: Guns of August — WWⅠ, Atomic bombs of August — WWⅡ, And on this day, 1996, Bin Laden declares war. |
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Terror, war, still rage.
We pray for casualties to cease, hostages set free — In a world itself held hostage to hatred, fear, and grief. |
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But August recalls progress, too.
Two anniversaries next week: 19th amendment, women’s right to vote: Human rights becoming legal rights, Enshrining liberty in law. And stirring words of Dr. King touched our nation’s soul: “I have a dream” — that we’ll be free at last.[1] From Martin Luth King’s “I have a dream” speech read at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (August 28, 1963). |
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75 days until our nation votes,
Embracing sometimes hard-won rights, keeping faith with prayers and dreams of better times: That justice rolls like mighty waters, Righteousness, a never-ending stream;[2] Amos 5:24 When freedom rings from every mountainside,[3] Find note above, from Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech. and war will be no more.[4] Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3. |
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Then, with new meaning, spirit, united we’ll proclaim:
My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing.[5] From the popular patriotic hymn “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” (1831) by Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), a de facto national anthem of the United States of America before 1931. |
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And may we say, Amen.
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118th Congress, 2nd Session.
Notes
1 | From Martin Luth King’s “I have a dream” speech read at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (August 28, 1963). |
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2 | Amos 5:24 |
3 | Find note above, from Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech. |
4 | Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3. |
5 | From the popular patriotic hymn “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” (1831) by Samuel Francis Smith (1808-1895), a de facto national anthem of the United States of America before 1931. |
Contributor: Arnold E. Resnicoff
Co-authors:
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Title: Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg
Caption: Flag of the United States House of Representatives