Dear Saint
John’s School Families,
National Day
of Prayer is held on the first Thursday of May each year, inviting Americans of
all faiths to pray for the country and its leaders. Several million people are expected to
participate in this call to prayer.
Other events in various communities across the United States will
include: choirs and bands performing
songs relating to prayer; community prayer breakfasts or luncheons; daytime
prayer walks; and evening worship and prayer services or gatherings. National Day of prayer is a time for people
of all faiths to pray together in their own way.
In 1775 the
Continental Congress allocated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. Over the years there have been calls for a
day of prayer, including from President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman
signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United
States. It was President Reagan who
amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the
National Day of Prayer.
The National
Prayer Committee was formed in the United States in 1972. It went on to create the National Day of
Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events for the
National Day of Prayer. According to the
Legal information Institute, the President shall issue each year a proclamation
designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the
people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at
churches, in groups and as individuals.
Our local
National Day of Prayer Committee here in Loveland has invited Saint John’s School to participate NEXT THURSDAY AT GROUP PUBLISHING, 1515
Cascade Avenue. Our student council
members lead by their teacher sponsors,
Mr. Sgourdos and Mrs. Garcia will
be on the evening’s program. EVERYONE IS INVITED to join together for this interdenominational
community prayer event. The evening will
begin at 6:00p.m. for refreshments and 6:30 prayer and praise. Prayer topics will include Family, Church, Schools,
Government, and Local Issues & Concerns.
Our students will lead in prayers for our Military.
With the
recent events such as the tragedy in Boston, our nation and local communities
must come together to pray. Perhaps in
our own family we could celebrate the National Day of Prayer in our home. It is good to remember Mother Teresa’s statement, “The family that prays together,
stays together.”
PRAY FOR AMERICA
“IN HIS NAME THE NATIONS WILL PUT
THEIR HOPE.” MATTHEW
12:21 (NIV)
Shalom,
Lois Schmitt
