The Closer Walk

National Day of Prayer 2011 

 completely informal and filled with a beautiful spirit of praise.

National Day of Prayer

--It was wonderful!

Over 250 people attended and were deeply blessed.

 youth rally

More links to copyrighted  pictures taken for The Standard Radio Post newspaper:

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=fred1&P=&AID=6151537&GID=652569&T=1&E=Y&IID=236248971

  http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=fred1&P=&AID=6151537&GID=652569&T=1&E=Y&IID=236248967   girls praying

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=fred1&P=&AID=&GID=652569&T=1&E=Y&IID=236248955  students praying

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=fred1&P=&AID=6151537&GID=652569&T=1&E=Y&IID=236248952  students

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=fred1&P=&AID=6151537&GID=652569&T=1&E=Y&IID=236248943  Joe introducing  students

 Our Community in Unity

2010 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

Thursday May 6

Marktplatz 5:30 pm-7 pm 

THEME

For Such a Time as This 

Youth Rally: 4:00pm-5:00 pm

Live Music: 5:30 pm-6:00 pm  - Led by Aaron Witte

6:00pm – 7:00 pm: Pledge, Prayers, and Songs

Opening: Boy Scouts lead in “The Pledge of Allegiance”

National Anthem: Melinda Lennon

Opening Remarks: Sara Allerkamp, Chair, Journey Church

Lincoln’s quote: Ed Giese

Scripture Reading:

 (English)- Nahum 1:7  Pastor Michael Dearinger, Journey Church

 (Span)- Janie Borjas, Primera Iglesia Bautista

Close Program with Prayer: Fernando Zurita, Pastor Primera Iglesia Bautisia (Interpreter Sara Allerkamp)

All Sing: God Bless America

We continue to pray in a smaller, informal group each Thursday from 6-7.  You are welcome to join us at the MarktPlatz. 

From the official National Day of Prayer web site:

History of the National Day of Prayer

“Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it.” Thomas Jefferson, 1808

Because of the faith of many of our founding fathers, public prayer and national days of prayer have a long-standing and significant history in American tradition. The Supreme Court affirmed the right of state legislatures to open their sessions with prayer in Marsh vs. Chambers (1983).

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

1952   Harry S. Truman declares a National Day of Prayer and signs into law an annual
observance there of – United States Congress passed Joint Resolution 382 on April 17, 1952/ President Truman signs Public Law 82-324 (Public Law 82-324; 66 Stat. 64—April 17, 1952).

1988   Ronald Reagan signs into law the designation of the first Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer  – President Reagan signs Public Law 100-307
January 25, 1988, in the Second Session of the One Hundredth Congress (Public Law 100-307—May 5, 1988).

1998  Pub. L. 105-225, August 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1258: 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.

View the Historical Time Line>>

The National Day of Prayer is Significant

The National Day of Prayer has great significance for us as a nation. It enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call to us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.

Like Thanksgiving or Christmas, this day has become a national observance placed on all Hallmark calendars and observed annually across the nation and in Washington, D.C. Last year, local, state and federal observances were held from sunrise in Maine to sunset in Hawaii, uniting Americans from all socio-economic, political and ethnic backgrounds in prayer for our nation. It is estimated that more than two million people attended more than 30,000 observances organized by approximately 40,000 volunteers. At state capitols, county court houses, on the steps of city halls, and in schools, businesses, churches and homes, people stopped their activities and gathered for prayer.

The National Day of Prayer is Ours

The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans. It is a day that transcends differences, bringing together citizens from all backgrounds. Mrs. Shirley Dobson, NDP chairman, reminds us: “We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep. I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom, too.”