| R 244 |
| 2024 -- S 3015 Enacted 05/02/2024 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| COMMEMORATING AND RECOGNIZING MAY 2, 2024, AS "NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators F. Lombardi, de la Cruz, Ciccone, Picard, Rogers, Felag, Raptakis, Zurier, Britto, and Bissaillon |
| Date Introduced: May 02, 2024 |
| 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 Christian Bible underscores the precious promise of faith 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 I will forgive |
| their sin and will heal their land"; and |
| WHEREAS, The theme for this year's National Day of Prayer is "LIFT UP THE WORD- |
| LIGHT UP THE WORLD" which comes from 2 Samuel 22:29-31 in the Holy Bible, and states |
| "For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You, I can run against |
| a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God--his way is perfect; the word of the Lord |
| proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him"; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby commemorates and |
| recognizes May 2, 2024, as "National Day of Prayer" in Rhode Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That 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; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Richard and Cheryl Russell, State Coordinators |
| of the National Day of Prayer. |
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| LC006019 |
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