Don’t expect music, sermons or speeches, and don’t bring any banners or signs. For such a time as this, the prayer time on the Capitol steps will have no pomp, just prayer.

The United States Code contains a unique law at 36 U.S.C. § 119 which says that, “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.”

Even though various presidents have occasionally proclaimed Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of Day to be days of prayer, only the first Thursday in May has a federal law identifying it as an annual day of prayer.

The idea for that federal law came in 1952, at the end of Billy Graham’s six week Washington, D.C. revival. He had been having meetings each night at the National Guard Armory and noontime prayer sessions in the Pentagon Auditorium. Graham commented, “Never in my whole religious experience have I seen such a hunger for religion as at the Pentagon.” (1)

To conclude the D.C. revival, House Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-TX) invited Rev. Graham to lead the first-ever worship service on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. (2)

During that service Billy Graham said, “What a thrilling, glorious thing it would be to see the leaders of our country today kneeling before Almighty God in prayer. What a thrill would sweep this country. What renewed hope and courage would grip the Americans at this hour of peril.” (3)

The very next day, Representative J. Percy Priest (D-TN) introduced the bill which established a National Day of Prayer, noting that the country had been “challenged yesterday by the suggestion made on the east steps of the Capitol by Billy Graham that the Congress call on the President for the proclamation of a day of prayer.” (4)

Rep. Jack Brooks (D-TX) rose in support of the bill, stating that “the national interest would be much better served if we turn aside for a full day of prayer for spiritual help and guidance from the Almighty during these troublous times. I hope that all denominations, Catholics, Jewish and Protestants, will join us in this day of prayer.” (5)

Another of those supporting Rep. Priest’s bill was Rep. Peter W. Rodino, Jr., (D-NJ) who later authored the Judiciary Committee’s majority reports for the civil rights bills of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968. Rep. Rodino said that “[I]t is fitting and timely that the people of America, in approaching the Easter season, as God-fearing men and women, devote themselves to a day of prayer in the interest of peace.” (6)

This year Billy Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, is the 2010 honorary chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. The year’s theme is “Prayer: For such a time as this.”

For the first time, there will be a National Day of Prayer observance on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. On Thursday, May 6, 2010, beginning at 11:30 a.m. and continuing until 1:00 p.m., there will be a Solemn Assembly of Prayer.

Don’t expect music, sermons or speeches, and don’t bring any banners or signs.

For such a time as this, the prayer time on the Capitol steps will have no pomp, just prayer. No protest, just prayer. No personalities, just prayer. No party division, just prayer. Communion will be offered at the end of the time of prayer. That’s what we all need right now, for such a time as this.

Editor’s Note: Mike Sharman, a resident of Foothills of Faith Farm in Madison County, Virginia, has served as an attorney and guardian for children for more than two decades. Mike writes a weekly editorial column published by the Culpeper Star-Exponent and others, and has written Faith of the Fathers: Religion and Matters of Faith Contained in the Presidents’ Inaugural Addresses from George Washington to George W. Bush. He also has a work in progress, to be entitled Endowed By Our Creator: Documentary Evidence of Our Christian Heritage. You may contact him at
n
[email protected]

[1] Bruns, Roger, Billy Graham: A Biography, Greenwood Press (2004), p. 47, accessed on the internet May 3, 2010 at http://books.google.com/books?id=HQvtTF1HSL8C&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=%22Sam+Rayburn%22+%22Billy+Graham%22+washington&source=bl&ots=hGyqVcaJoQ&sig=ha2so4SonODxyrGypH3ozl8RiWg&hl=en&ei=HuPeS5LiA4jc9ASU25WXBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBoQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
[1] Wacker, Grant “Charles Atlas with a Halo: America’s Billy Graham”, The Christian CENTURY, April 1, 1992, pp. 336-341, accessed on the internet May 3, 2010 at http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=181
[1] Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Obama, Western District of Wisconsin, Case: 3:08-cv-00588-bbc Document #: 132, Opinion by Judge Barbara B. Crabb, p. 5
[1] Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Obama, Western District of Wisconsin, Case: 3:08-cv-00588-bbc Document #: 132, Opinion by Judge Barbara B. Crabb, p. 5
[1] Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Obama, Western District of Wisconsin, Case: 3:08-cv-00588-bbc Document #: 132, Opinion by Judge Barbara B. Crabb, pp. 6-7
[1] Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Obama, Western District of Wisconsin, Case: 3:08-cv-00588-bbc Document #: 132, Opinion by Judge Barbara B. Crabb, p. 7