During the Minnesota Senate’s floor session on Monday, April 28, Pastor Regina Garrett of the First United Methodist Church in Redwood Falls provided the Prayer of the Day as the guest chaplain.

Each biennium, the Senate elects an Official Chaplain. The Chaplain provides the Prayer of the Day roughly 6 ‒ 8 times each year, depending on what fits their schedule.

For over 40 years, the Minnesota Senate has allowed pastors the opportunity to give the Prayer of the Day whenever the Senate is in a floor session. Pastors who are interested in providing the Prayer of the Day may contact their senator and ask to be considered.

Below is the prayer given by Pastor Garrett.

To our Most Honored Creator God,

We are humbled before You this momentous day in how you have blessed this great body of representatives of the people of Minnesota. When the nation is in a great state of unrest and division, You have given this body wisdom, love and respect. As a state, we can trust them to lay aside political differences and put the needs of what is best for Minnesota first and foremost. We trust that the love within each of them will extend to each other thereby flowing out to we the people – and we will see that love in the laws they make to benefit and serve each citizen of this great state. They have difficult tasks before them and sometimes they become weary. I ask You to revive them again, to strengthen them to reason a little longer and listen to each other a little deeper. Creator God, look down upon these Your people with mercy and bless them – as only You can – with a vision that surpasses all political visions to help the people in this state.

When any leader is challenged to throw in the towel, admit defeat and give up, give them the spirit of pause – to sit still, breathe deeply, and wait on the calm to carry on. Because we are human and live in an earthen vessel, when the anger rises, send a calming breeze of peace that will soothe the furrowed brow. When the trial of fatigue in listening becomes so great, allow the faith they have in each other and the love for the state of Minnesota to produce the endurance needed to go a little while longer!

Yes, there is much yet to be done but You have deposited a genius within each present today and that genius will know what to do and when it should be done. Bless them even deeper with patience for each speaker and give each speaker a sense of brevity when needed. We are grateful for this body of wisdom and know that they will be the best of the best for our state. Now as they enter the business of the day, I speak a blessing of order, productivity, and generosity of responses to public needs. I bless them to engage in transparent processes and to foster a culture of collaboration and compromise. I challenge them to continue to walk in their respective high personal standards and to cultivate alliances for the best of our state. As it has been spoken, let it be done! In the Name of He who is mighty above all ~ Amen!

 (Photo courtesy of Senate Media Services)