Did you know

...

That the National

Day of Prayer is a tradition first proclaimed by the Continental Congress

in 1775?

That in 1952

Congress unanimously passed a joint resolution signed by President Harry

Truman establishing the annual National Day of Prayer?

That in 1988

legislation setting aside the first Thursday in May of each year as a

National Day of Prayer was passed unanimously by both houses of Congress

and signed by President Ronald Reagan?

That the National

Day of Prayer is an opportunity for Americans to come together, joining

in united prayer to give God thanks for all his many blessings upon our

land, and seek his divine direction for our future?

That this is

the 50th consecutive annual observance of the National Day of Prayer?

That the mayor

and City Council of Fayetteville, the mayor and City Council of Peachtree

City, and the county commissioners of Fayette County have proclaimed Thursday,

May 3, 2001 as the National Day of Prayer Day here in our community?

Sounds "official,"

doesn't it? Well, it is.

And what a

great day it will be!

We will duly

celebrate here in Fayette County with three distinctive events that day.

First, all

youth in our county are invited to come to the Heritage Park fountain

in downtown Fayetteville to join in the festivities of the youth prayer

rally early that morning. A first come/first served Chick-fil-A biscuit

breakfast will be served at 6:30 a.m. Then some of our wonderful area

youth will lead praise and worship and prayers from 7:00 ­ 7:50 a.m.

Please have your own transportation to school from there.

Second, at

8 a.m. a prayer breakfast for all local civic and governmental leaders

will be at Grace Evangelical Church on Flat Creek Road, off of Ga. Highway

54, about half way between Fayetteville and Peachtree City. All local

pastors are also invited and encouraged to come to offer prayers at the

tables for our community leaders. Our "officials" and pastors

are simply asked to call the church at 770-487-0791 to make your free

reservations.

Finally, Thursday

evening, we will all gather in a "County-Wide Prayer Gathering"

on the lawn of First Baptist Church next to the square in Fayetteville.

Remember, this is a county and " all-church " event.

We are so thankful to FBC for letting us all come and sit on their lawn!

Come at 6:30

p.m. and plan to buy a fresh Chick-fil-A sandwich or Papa John's pizza,

both of which will be available right on the church lawn. Or bring your

own picnic basket. Everyone is asked to bring blankets and/or chairs.

Thanks!

We'll have

live music for praise and worship, and participate in prayer circles made

up of old and new friends. The majority of the prayers will be simple

"sentence prayers" said in informal clusters on the lawn by

all the participants, lay and clergy alike. Everything will be over at

8 o'clock.

I would like

to extend a personal invitation and encouragement to all our citizens

and families of Fayette County to come to these important, even historical,

events of the day.

This Scripture

verse comes to mind and gives direction to these events: The Lord says

in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people who are called by my name will

humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked

ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal

their land."

I'll see you

Thursday.

Kollmeyer is

senior pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville.

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