Reverend Hardy Kim
Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church
Sunnyvale, CA
Sponsor: Rep. Ro Khanna, (D-CA)
Date of Prayer: 04/30/2019
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. KHANNA. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today to introduce
today's guest chaplain, the Reverend Hardy Kim of Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, which is in my district.
Since 1956, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church has stood for peace and justice in Silicon Valley. Pastor Kim began his service there 2 years ago, hoping to unite our diverse community and delivering spiritual comfort to the least fortunate.
His work is important for those families struggling to find
affordable housing and keep up with the rising cost of living often
overlooked in Silicon Valley's soaring wealth.
He also is an immigrant success story. He came here with his parents
from South Korea to Detroit and later received a bachelor's degree from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Michigan. After a year as a Presbyterian mission volunteer in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he
felt called to church ministry.
I have been honored to participate in dialogues he has led in the
community on immigration and gun control. I have learned a lot from him
about history. He recently told me that our separation of powers––such an important concept today––is inspired in part by the Presbyterian
Church, and that one of my favorite Presidents, Woodrow Wilson, apparently remarked that the highest honor of his life was not being President of the United States, but it was being an elder in the
Presbyterian Church.
Pastor Kim has become a reliable and trusted voice in Silicon Valley.
I am very proud to introduce him to the House and honored that he would grace us with the opening prayer.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Holy God, we give You thanks for this day filled with vibrant life, proving Your ongoing care for all creation.
We thank You for the Members of this House, for the gifts they bear, the communities they represent, and the varied spiritual journeys that
have formed them. Grant each of them understanding of Your divine truth, that they might wisely lead us along paths of righteousness.
Remind us all today to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly before You. Moreover, bless the leaders in this diverse gathering. By them, make our Nation one body, ready to do Your will––with eyes to look upon the suffering in compassion, voices to speak love and affirmation to the dehumanized, hands and feet to go out and establish Your peace and justice for all, not just a few.
Offering ourselves and these prayers into Your divine care, we pray.
Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory