It's
April already? Time change--"spring forward" this weekend? Yikes--I'm already can't keep up, and now I get to lose an hour...
Anyway, I was on my way to work and saw an ad on a COTA bus proclaiming "Pray!" (I guess the "--dammit!" is implied.) Apparently this is becoming a habit for me...as you can see from my post at The Village Gate, "Thoughts on the National Day of Prayer" from last year, it was a bus sign that alerted me to the NDOP last time around as well. By the way, do click for my post from last year if you're not familiar with just how exclusionary this supposedly "interfaith" day of prayer is. And check out the "Freedom Five" from last year.
This year, there has already been some dispute in Troy, Michigan, over which group could hold its service at the Troy City Hall...
Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus will be among those gathered in front of Troy City Hall to express their faith on the National Day of Prayer.
But Christians will have an hour alone to pray, and a service that combines all the groups will be held separately.
That was the compromise the Troy City Council approved Monday night after members of different faith groups complained.
Earlier this month, the council had turned down a request from the Troy National Day of Prayer Christian Task Force to use the space because the group wanted to organize an event featuring only Christian speakers and prayers. Members of other faith groups said the event, instead, should have many religions represented.
The council regrouped on Monday and found a compromise. The interfaith group will meet from 11 a.m. until noon and the Christian group from noon until 1 p.m.
"We'll make sure we work it out," said the Rev. Richard A. Peacock of Troy First United Methodist Church, who represented the interfaith group. "And we're inviting everyone to join us."
The National Day of Prayer was established by Congress in 1952 as a day for people of all faiths to pray for the country.
Because I am a glutton for punishment, I went to the official site of the National Day of Prayer Task Force and used the "find an event in your area" function. You'll never guess who the Honorary Ohio National Day of Prayer Chairman is...
National Day of Prayer
Description:
To gather together to lift up the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Speakers for the observance will be Ohio Secretary of State and Honorary Ohio National Day of Prayer Chairman, J. Kenneth Blackwell and Rev. Ken Daft. We will be praying for our communities, state, and nation, elected officials, school faculty and administrators, churches, and our families. We will honor the men and women of the U. S. Armed Services and Ohio National Guard.
Location: Ashville, Ohio, Teays Valley High School Auditorium
Event Time: 07:00PM, Event Date: 05/05/05
Somebody dang well better be planning an interfaith event, a la Troy Michigan here...