As it turns out, a Lancaster County pastor is behind that recent kerfuffle over opening prayers in the House — specifically those mentioning “Jesus” or other specific religious figures. House leaders objected to a prayer delivered on June 10 by Pastor Jamie Mitchell, of NewSong Fellowship Church on Prospect Street in Lancaster, and drafted a policy requiring officials to review all prayers before they’re read on the floor. They have since amended the policy to ask clergy to keep their prayers non-denominational and apolitical.

“We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’” Mitchell prayed on the floor, “but that’s exactly what we’ve done. We have ignored Your spiritual compass and have tried to guide our paths with our own values, desires and indulgences.”

Mitchell specifically criticized the state lottery, welfare system and abortion before mentioning Jesus is closing. He was invited to do the prayer by Rep. Scott Boyd, a Republican from West Lampeter Township.

“It’s not that I’m judgmental and trying to pick a fight. I’m trying to raise an issue,” says Mitchell. “I look at our nation right now and I’m concerned. There are things on people’s minds and hearts today.

“The way I see it is we reward the lazy people who are irresponsible and call it welfare,” he said. “We prey on the old and naive and call it the lottery. … but it was the name of Jesus that got people really hacked off.”

He believes the House is wrong in limiting what clergy say. “I want the freedom to say what I need to say without them wanted to blow me up,” Mitchell said.

Here, then, is Mitchell’s entire prayer:

Prayer for the House of Rep – June 10, 2009

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we come before You today because we have nowhere else to go. For You are the true and living God. You are the Maker of Heaven and Earth. You are the sustainer of man and all that we are or ever will be. You are the only real HOPE for our nation and our commonwealth. We come before You in this grand hall, before the important and the powerful, in complete humility and brokenness because Your holiness consumes our failings, reveals our iniquities and lays bare all of our unrighteousness.

We come to ask Your forgiveness and seek Your help and guidance. We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good,” but that’s exactly what we’ve done. We have ignored Your spiritual compass and have tried to guide our paths with our own values, desires and indulgences.

         We confess that we have mocked the absolute truth of Your Word and called it relativism.

         We have worshiped other gods, failing to acknowledge You alone and called it multi-culturalism.

         We have exploited the poor and naïve; and called it the lottery.

         We have made excuses for the law breaker and called it tolerance.

         We have demeaned the law keepers and called it politically correct.

         We have neglected our neighbor and called it self-preservation.

         We have rewarded laziness, irresponsibility and called it welfare.

         We have killed our unborn and called it a choice.

         We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

         We have neglected to discipline our children and called it releasing their creativity.

         We have abused power, been party to back room dealing and even hoped for our colleagues down fall and called it political savvy.

         We have squandered our resources and paid back favors with taxpayer’s funds and called it a stimulus.

         We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

Search us O God and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

Guide and bless these men and women, who have been sent here by the people of Pennsylvania, and who Your Holy Word calls, ordained ministers of peace, to govern this great commonwealth.

Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will. May they choose today to be servants of You, Almighty God, and then prosper their steps for their obedience.  May we live in reverent fear of your greatness in comparison to our insignificance.

I ask it, in the name of your son, our living savior and Master, Jesus the Christ. Amen.