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Invocation of Rev. Daniel Coughlin

House Chaplain, Daniel Coughlin
U.S. Capital Rotunda
Washington, D.C.
December 30, 2006

“How mighty is the hand that can turn a page of history!”
Lord God, You call each of us by name and You alone know each of us through and through. You have called Gerald R. Ford unto Yourself and again he has responded to You with hope and is confirmed by America’s prayers just as he sought them when called to serve as President of this great nation.

As we welcome Mrs. Ford and President Ford’s family and friends to this Rotunda, the nation is called to surround them with their prayers, - their sympathy for their loss and their gratitude for sharing his love and his loyalty with all of us for so many years in government service.

Again, at this moment of death, we humbly ask You, Lord, to grant peace and reconciliation, healing and gentle civility to this nation, as this man so nobly tried to do in life’s singular moments by his efforts to close chapter upon chapter on America’s sadness.

May the brightness of hope and the promise of eternal life reward this modest man, The Honorable Gerald Ford.  And may the story of the 38th President of the United States inspire others in this nation and around the world, to respond to Your Providential call as he did.  Lord, call many to seize their  moment to make a difference “by serving the people’s urgent needs” Then empower them to make bold steps in searching for  ways of peace and reconciliation, just as he did.
“For mighty is the hand that can turn a page of history.”