House of Representatives Chaplain Jim Harry is slated to leave next week for a new church in Goldsboro and will be relinquishing his House duties.

Harry, pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church about five blocks from the legislature, will take the pulpit at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Goldsboro. He has served as House chaplain for all but a few months of the past 12 years.

During moments of state and national crisis, from September 11 to House Speaker Jim Black's indictment, he offered the opening words of comfort when House members gathered for session.

On the day students were massacred at Virginia Tech, he jotted out a new prayer moments before the session began. One legislator once complained to Harry for not ending prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, while a Jewish lawmaker another time thanked him for making people of all faiths feel welcome.

A reception in his honor is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Rep. Becky Carney may be released from the hospital Tuesday.

Carney, a Charlotte Democrat, was re-admitted to the hospital after she developed a fever. Carney had a hybrid pacemaker and defibrillator implanted after she suffered a cardiac arrest Thursday.

House Chaplain Jim Harry said Monday that he spoke to Carney and that she was feeling better.

"She was mad because it was going to be a month before she could golf. Now they've stretched it to 6 to 8 weeks," Harry said.

Harry said that Carney's doctors believe that legislative police officers and Rep. Bob England, an Ellenboro Democrat who is also a physician, saved her life. They administered CPR and a shock from a portable defibrillator shortly after the cardiac arrest.

The House opened with a prayer from Chaplain Jim Harry to "fill us with your grace and endow us with the dignity and resolve necessary for us to fulfill our responsibilities."

Shortly after, House Speaker Joe Hackney announced that Rep. Saundra Spaulding Hughes, a Wilmington Democrat, had been appointed to replace disgraced Rep. Thomas Wright, who had been convicted of fraud in state court, Dan Kane reports. Hughes is running for the seat and won last week's primary.

Wright, also a Wilmington Democrat, had represented the district for nearly eight terms.

Little business was conducted in the 20-minute opening session. Reps. Bob England and Carolyn Justice were recognized for having birthdays, and lawmakers were invited to watch a NASCAR-style tire-changing competition between the House and Senate.