| R 258 |
| 2019 -- S 0853 Enacted 05/02/2019 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RECOGNIZING MAY 2, 2019, AS "NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
| Introduced By: Senators de la Cruz, Metts, Ruggerio, DiPalma, and Seveney |
| Date Introduced: May 02, 2019 |
| WHEREAS, During times of strength and times of weakness, in moments of joy and |
| moments of despair, Americans of many different faiths and traditions have turned to prayer as a |
| means of seeking comfort, giving thanks, and asking for guidance and grace; and |
| WHEREAS, Prayer brings communities together and can be a source of inspiration and |
| courage. In the aftermath of senseless acts of violence and unnecessary suffering and death, the |
| prayers of countless Americans signal to grieving families and communities that they are not |
| alone. Their pain is a shared pain, and their hope is a shared hope. Regardless of religion or creed, |
| Americans of faith reflect on the sacredness of life and express their sympathy for the wounded |
| and the recovering, offering comfort and holding up a light in a time of darkness; and |
| WHEREAS, Today, Americans continue the tradition of our ancestors by acknowledging |
| the power of prayer in our lives and cherishing our right to pray freely; and |
| WHEREAS, The tradition of national supplication was made official in 1952, when |
| President Harry Truman signed a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress establishing a floating |
| annual national day of prayer. Finally, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan set the date for the |
| annual prayer day as the first Thursday in May; and |
| WHEREAS, The theme for this year's National Day of Prayer is "Love One Another." |
| The theme comes from the words of Jesus and John 13:34, "Love one another, just as I have |
| loved you," and is guided by the belief that prayer brings unity and that God can bring anyone |
| and anything together, including opposing persons and opposing political parties; now, therefore |
| be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
| hereby recognizes May 2, 2019, as "National Day of Prayer" in Rhode Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, This Senate hereby encourages all Rhode Islanders to set aside a particular |
| moment on this day to participate in this meaningful spiritual event and to encourage their friends |
| and neighbors to observe this year's National Day of Prayer according to their own faith or |
| practice. |
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