Reverend Dr. Thomas Elliott, Jr.
Cannon United Methodist Church
Snellville, GA
Sponsor: Rep. Rob Woodall, (R-GA)
Date of Prayer: 06/05/2013
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, it's my great pleasure this morning to introduce my colleagues to Dr. Tom Elliott . Not only is he our guest chaplain today and the senior pastor at Cannon United Methodist Church in Snellville, in my district, he was also my youth minister growing up in Decatur, Georgia. For over 30 years, I've known Tom.
He's here today with his wife, Kelly. He is surrounded in love by his daughter, Lucy, and his son, Thomas. He has a love of the Lord, and that's a love that he shares in the pulpit on Sunday morning, and a love that you can find expressed in music at coffeehouses around the district in his Wild at Heart band nights during the week.
It's my great pleasure to have Tom with us today. I thank you for your service to our community, Tom, and I thank you for your service to the Lord.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Gracious God, You are the hope and end of all creation. Through Your love and mercy, You give us life and freedom. You bless us with an abundance of resources. You invite us to faith.
We thank You for Your presence and pray that You will guide us in the work You seek to accomplish.
Forgive us our indulgences and selfishness. Remove the prejudice, hatred, and contempt that divide us. Govern our thoughts with liberty and justice for all. Make us mindful of the needs of all peoples. Transform our economic woes. Influence our decisions. Free us from terrorism and war. Reveal Your will to us.
Today, we pray for our Nation, our President, and this Congress, the military and citizens, the less fortunate and peoples of the Earth.
Turn our hearts to You that we may serve this day with compassion, justice, courage, and peace.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory