NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER PROCLAMATION

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2002
A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

"Since our Nation's founding, Americans have turned to prayer for inspiration, strength and guidance. In times of trial, we ask God for wisdom, courage, direction and comfort. We offer thanks for the countless blessings God has provided. And we thank God for sanctifying every human life by creating each of us in His image. As we observe this National Day of Prayer, we call upon the Almighty to continue to bless America and her people.

Especially since September 11, millions of Americans have been led to prayer. They have prayed for comfort in a time of grief, for understanding in a time of anger and for protection in a time of uncertainty. We have all seen God's great faithfulness to our country. America's enemies sought to weaken and destroy us through acts of terror. None of us would ever wish on anyone what happened on September 11th. Yet tragedy and sorrow none of us would choose have brought forth wisdom, courage and generosity. In the face of terrorist attacks, prayer provided Americans with hope and strength for the journey ahead.

God has blessed our Nation beyond measure. We give thanks for our families and loved ones, for the abundance of our land and the fruits of labor, for our inalienable rights and liberties and for a great Nation that leads the world in efforts to preserve those rights and liberties. We give thanks for all those across the world who have joined with America in the fight against terrorism. We give thanks for the men and women of our military, who are fighting to defend our Nation and the future of civilization.

We continue to remember those who are suffering and face hardships. We pray for peace throughout the world.

On this National Day of Prayer, I encourage Americans to remember the words of St. Paul: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to honor the religious diversity our freedom permits by recognizing annually a "National Day of Prayer."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2, 2002, as a National Day of Prayer. I ask Americans to pray for God's protection, to express gratitude for our blessings and to seek moral and spiritual renewal. I urge all our citizens to join in observing this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth."

For more information on the National Day of Prayer and to find an event in your area, please go to www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

I got this in an email today from Jay Alan Sekulow:Don't be surprised if opposition surfaces this week as you and I get ready for the National Day of Prayer.
Without question, there will be those who are OFFENDED by our observance of this day, claiming it violates the Constitution and the separation of church and state.
But those critics should understand what you and I - and many other Americans - already know:
THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IS *NOT* A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS!
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment simply states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an Establishment of Religion ..."
NOTHING about the National Day of Prayer accomplishes such an Establishment of Religion. And there is no legal precedent to suggest that such an observance violates the Constitution.
In fact, the opposite is true. THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS REPEATEDLY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTS RELIGIOUS SPEECH. And the court has made it clear that THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT DISCRIMINATE against religious speech simply because it is religious in nature.
SO THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL OR UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABOUT THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER! (If you do hear of threats against National Day of Prayer activities in your community, please contact us right away at www.aclj.org )
The fact is, prayer has been an integral part of this country since the beginning:
* The Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in 1775.
* In 1863, Abraham Lincoln called for such a day.
* In 1952, President Truman signed into law a joint resolution by Congress declaring an annual national Day of Prayer.
* President Reagan amended it in 1988 to designate the first Thursday of every May as the National Day of Prayer.
This year, the theme for the National Day of Prayer is "America United Under God." And organizers are hoping Americans will ponder this biblical verse from the Book of Psalms during this year's observance:
"GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, AN EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE."
As President Bush said at the National Prayer Breakfast not long ago, "Tremendous challenges await this nation, and there will be hardships ahead. Faith will not make our path easy, but it will give us strength for the journey."
All Americans should welcome the National Day of Prayer. It is more than just an occasion to celebrate the religious freedom you and I work so hard to defend - it is a POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY to join with believers across the country in prayer!

I encourage you to participate in a National Day of Prayer event in your community. Thank you for your partnership in defending the Constitution ... and MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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