Today Has Been National Day of Prayer

Today has been the National Day of Prayer.  Under 36 USC Sec. 119, the president is to issue a proclamation each year "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."  President Obama issued this year's Proclamation (full text) yesterday. The Proclamation reads in part:

In times of steady calm and extraordinary change alike, Americans of all walks of life have long turned to prayer to seek refuge, demonstrate gratitude, and discover peace.  Sustaining us through great uncertainty and moments of sorrow, prayer allows us an outlet for introspection, and for expressing our hopes, desires, and fears.  It offers strength in the face of hardship, and redemption when we falter.  Our country was founded on the idea of religious freedom, and we have long upheld the belief that how we pray and whether we pray are matters reserved for an individual's own conscience.  On National Day of Prayer, we rededicate ourselves to extending this freedom to all people.

The national observance, sponsored by the private National Day of Prayer Task Force, took place at the Canon House Office Building on Capitol Hill this morning.  The Task Force also announced today that  Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Dr. Billy Graham, is succeeding Shirley Dobson as chair of the Task Force.  Dobson has served in that role for 25 years.