| When the Rotary Club of North Fulton was chartered in January, 2000, Club members searched for a signature community service project that would reflect the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self," and would make a significant impact on the community. The Club chose to sponsor an annual event calling North Atlanta to prayer.
The choice might surprise some because although Rotary International promotes high ethical standards, it is not a religious organization. It does not promote any one religion, and virtually all religious persuasions are represented among its 1.2 million members in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. And some might maintain that prayer exercised in a general, interfaith sort of way must of necessity be tepid and ineffective.
Yet the members of the Rotary Club of North Fulton felt the best service we might provide the North Atlanta area would be, once a year, to call all of us to dependence on God, to reliance upon the Power who has blessed each one of us beyond measure. We share the convictions of Pope Pius XII that "Man is great only when he is kneeling", and of Abraham Lincoln when he declared, "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."
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This call of the North Atlanta community to prayer is a part of the National Day of Prayer observance to encourage Americans to pray for our nation, its people and its leaders. Days of prayer have been called for since 1775 when the Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. In l863 Lincoln asked for such a day. Officially the National Day of Prayer was voted by Congress and signed into law by President Truman in l952. In l988 President Reagan signed into law legislation designating the first Thursday of May as National Day of Prayer. The observance is interfaith and non-political.
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The theme of the 2010 National Day of Prayer is "Prayer for Such a Time as This" and is based on the verse from Nahum 1:7 which states: "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
The following special prayer for the nation was written by Dr. Luis Palau for a prior year's event:
Our Father and our God,
We thank you for the many blessings you have poured out on America,
and we praise you for your mercy.
You have said, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." We confess, O Lord, our national and personal sins. We repent and ask forgiveness for all actions that dishonor you.
O God, bless our President and other leaders. Provide them with wisdom and move them to honor you.
Deliver this great nation from all our enemies as we recommit ourselves to trust, serve and obey your commands.
We pray in your holy name,
Amen.
Please visit the National Day of Prayer Website to learn more about this event.
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