National Day of Prayer
By DANA DITTMAR
CEO, SCC Chamber
Growing up a U.S. Air Force dependent, we moved a lot. That meant new schools, new friends, and new churches with every move. Mom referred to us as Metho-bap-terians, meaning we went to whatever Protestant church was nearest our new home.
Over the years my spiritual and religious beliefs have evolved, definitely shaped by my studies in comparative religion in graduate school. I’ve finally settled on a Science of Mind approach, which works for me.
But no matter what your spirituality or religious belief, I believe we can all agree on one thing — the power of prayer. It has helped me and my friends get through everything from cancer, grief, emotional lows and career stress. How many times have we seen pleas for prayers from our friends and family on Facebook?
That’s why I’m pleased that the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 246 in Sun City Center is supporting National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 4. Auxiliary Chaplain Nelda Ledet, will be hosting the event at Friendship Baptist Church.
This service is always held the first Thursday in May, and people of all faiths are invited to pray for the nation (if there was ever a time our country needed prayer, it’s now). It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman.
Actually, the first national call to prayer was in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming the nation. Abraham Lincoln also had a proclamation for a day of “humiliation, fasting and prayer” in 1863. The founding fathers may have been sure about separating church and state, but they also believed in a higher power and the effect of prayers.
The intent of National Day of Prayer is to enable us to recall and teach the way in which the founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. Like Thanksgiving or Christmas, this day has become a national observance placed on all Hallmark calendars and observed annually across the nation. Every year local, state and federal observances are held from sunrise in Maine to sunset in Hawaii, uniting Americans from every socioeconomic, political and ethnic background in prayer for the United States of America.
This isn’t just a random day of prayer, though. We are specifically seeking guidance in seven areas: government, church, the military, families, education, the media and business.
I urge all of you, no matter your faith, to go to Friendship Baptist Church at 1511 El Rancho Dr., in Sun City Center, on Thursday, May 4, at 1 p.m. to be a part of this prayer. If you can’t make it, please take time out of your busy day to devote a few minutes to praying for our country. Lord knows, we could use it right about now.