National Day of Prayer

(As we in the UK go to the polls our cousins in the USA turn to prayer)

National Day of Prayer 2010

The 59th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place Thursday, May 6, 2010. Millions will unite in prayer at thousands of events from coast to coast. The theme for this year is “Prayer for Such a Time as This” and is based on the verse from Nahum 1:7 which states: “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.”

A bit of background and a few facts on the National Day of Prayer might be of interest as we observe this day.

In 1776 the Continental Congress called for prayer, and each step of developing a constitution and a new nation was preceded by prayer. When the Constitutional Convention was at a roadblock in 1787, Benjamin Franklin made a special request for prayer saying, “…I see this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? …I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessing on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning….” (Christian Defense Fund, “One Nation Under God,” 1997, p. 22-24).

Although national days of prayer had long been a part of our history, for many years the U.S. President would declare the observance to be on a day of his choosing. In 1952 President Harry Truman signed a joint resolution of Congress establishing an annual day of prayer. In 1988 President Ronald Reagan and Congress amended the law to designate the first Thursday of every May to be an annual observance. Each year the President signs a proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray, and state governors do so as well. President Obama has made such a proclamation this year calling upon the citizens of our nation to pray for their country.

A volunteer coordinator network organizes local, state and federal observances throughout the nation. Observances begin at sunrise in Maine and continue through the day until sunset in Hawaii. There is unity through a theme, scripture and artwork which is developed by the NDP Task Force, but individuals are free to observe the day in their own prayer style. Shirley Dobson, wife of Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family has been the Task Force chairman since early 1990’s. She has volunteered her time as a citizen along with thousands of volunteers across the nation.

World War II:70 years on

The British declaration of war against Nazi Germany came at 11.15 on September 3rd 1939. Neville Chamberlain spoke to the nation via radio. Britain had given Hitleran ultimatum to withdraw from Poland after the Germans invaded Poland on September 1st.

"I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10, Downing Street.

This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11.00 a.m. that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us.

I have to tell you that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.

You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed. Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more or anything different I could have done and that would have been more successful.

Up to the very last it would have been quite possible to have arranged a peaceful and honourable settlement between Germany and Poland, but Hitler would not have it.

He had evidently made up his mind to attack Poland whatever happened; and although he now says he has put forward reasonable proposals which were rejected by the Poles, that is not a true statement.

The proposals were never shown to the Poles nor to us; and although they were announced in a German broadcast on Thursday night, Hitler did not wait to make comment on them, but ordered his troops to cross the Polish frontier.

His actions show convincingly that there is no chance of expecting that this man will ever give up his practice of using force to gain his will. He can only be stopped by force.

We and France are today, in fulfilment of our obligations, going to the aid of Poland, who is so bravely resisting this wicked and unprovoked attack on her people. We have a clear conscience. We have done all that any country could do to establish peace. The situation in which no word given to Germany’s ruler could be trusted and no people or country could feel themselves safe has become intolerable.

And now that we have resolved to finish it, I know that you will play your part with calmness and courage.

At such a moment as this the assurances of support that we have received from the Empire are a source of profound encouragement to us.

When I have finished speaking certain detailed announcements will be made on behalf of the Government. Give these your closest attention.

The Government have made plans under which it will be possible to carry on the work of the nation in the days of stress and strain that may be ahead. But these plans need your help.

You may be taking part in the fighting Services or as a volunteer in one of the branches of civil defence. If so you will report for duty in accordance with the instructions you have received.

You may be engaged in work essential to the prosecution of war for the maintenance of the life of the people – in factories, in transport, in public utility concerns or in the supply of other necessaries of life. If so, it is of vital importance that you should carry on with your jobs.

Now may God bless you all. May He defend the right. It is the evil things that we shall be fighting against – brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution – and against them I am certain that the right will prevail."

Onwards to 2012

2005

• July 6: London defeats Paris to host the 2012 Olympic Games

2006

• Land purchased in Olympic Park
• Senior staff appointed, including Paul Deighton, chief executive of the organising committee, and David Higgins, his counterpart at the Olympic Delivery Authority

2007

• March: New £9.3 billion budget approved
• June: Games logo launched
• Power lines concealed underground

2008

• January: Training camps announced
• April: Beijing torch relay runs into London protests
• May: Work begins on the Olympic Stadium
• August: Handover ceremony at the Beijing Olympics closing ceremony

2009

• July: Stadium foundations and external structure complete
• July: London sponsorship passes the £500 million mark
• July 27: Exactly three years to go to the Games opening
• October: Olympic Legacy Company begins examining post-Games plans

2010

• February: Vancouver Winter Olympics
• Mascots launched
• Volunteer programme launched

2011

• Ticket pricing and availability announced
• July: All venues complete and organising committee takes possession of venues from ODA; test events follow

2012

• May: Torch relay begins in Athens, continues in United Kingdom
• June: The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
• July 27 at 8.12pm: Opening ceremony starts

London 2012: organisers plan for symbolic 20.12 start for opening ceremony

London Olympic organisers are hoping to start the opening ceremony of the Games three years today at 8.12pm, 20.12 in the 24-hour clock.

The London organising committee is in talks with broadcasters and the International Olympic Committee over scheduling the opening moments of the Games with a symmetry that would echo the start of the Beijing Olympics last summer.

In Beijing the Games began at 8.08pm (20.08) on Aug 8, the eighth of the eighth of the eighth marking the significance of eight as a lucky number in Chinese culture.

Announcing several milestones the organising committee will reveal it has raised £530 million of its £650 million sponsorship target, and Olympic lottery games have raised £580 million from the sale of two billion tickets.

Ministers, the leaders of the organising committee and Olympic Delivery Authority and athletes will mark the event by travelling to the Olympic Park on a Javelin train today. They will do so with the endorsement of IOC president Jacques Rogge, who praised London's progress.

"A little over four years ago, Seb Coe presented a vision to the IOC members of Games that would make a difference... London 2012 and its partners are delivering on that vision.

"Their good work since Singapore is a testament to that fact and I am in no doubt that in 2012, we will see great Games that will make a difference to us all."

Sentamu for England

Dr John Sentamu opened up the grounds of his Bishopthorpe Palace, near York, to local children for a party to mark the day dedicated to England's patron saint.

Meanwhile, London Mayor Boris Johnson announced a series of free events in the capital and flew the English flag outside City Hall, while a music concert will take place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the capital, English armoured and mounted knights took part in a medieval battle at Old Spitalfields Market. And sporting celebrities including World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst attended the Bombardier-sponsored St George's Day Long Lunch in the City.

Dr Sentamu's party was one of a series of events held around England to mark the day which many feel has been largely forgotten.

The archbishop said he thought it was wrong the Irish, Scots and Welsh should all enthusiastically mark their saints' days but many English people did not really recognise St George's Day.

He said: "I would love this to be a day of dedication, that we will help those who are struggling within our country - help them like St George would have done. But it also happens to be the birthday of Shakespeare. Why couldn't we have street parties where plays of Shakespeare and many other plays are being re-enacted in our streets?

"Why don't we have art, music, dance and actually have a great celebration? This country needs a lift instead of always feeling 'oh dear everything is bad, it's very awful'. And these children playing rounders here are trying to say there are some good things in England worth celebrating."

Creating a new public holiday would turn the occasion around from an event that has lost relevance, according to a survey of 7,000 users of social website MySpace.

St George's Day needs a "radical refresh" - including workers being given the day off, Stephen Fry being made patron saint of England and the Sex Pistols song God Save The Queen made the English anthem, according to the new study.

Whose country is it anyway?

A disturbing report from the neighbouring parish to my former parish:

THE CANCELLATION of a St George’s Day procession of 2000 children in Bradford angered community leaders and left schools disappointed this week. The Vicar of Girlington, the Revd Tony Tooby, described the decision by the council and West Yorkshire police as “a sad day for the city”.

The event had been suggested in November 2007 by the Neighbourhood Policing Team. The children would have walked a two-mile route that included two streets in Manningham where rioting took place in 2001.

A week before the event was to take place, it was abruptly cancelled on the grounds of “health and safety”. Mr Tooby, who is chairman of governors at St Philip’s C of E Primary School, said on Tuesday: “They offered us an alternative route, which was just one street to march down, and made a grudging offer of 1 July as an alternative date.”

He said that the children at the school — which has a 99-per-cent Muslim intake — had been making flags and dragons, and had been excited at the prospect of the parade. The communities had embraced the emphasis on being Bradfordians.

Fears about the activities of far-Right parties in the run-up to local elections on 1 May are believed to underpin the decision, but Bradford Council and the police insist that the concern was health and safety. “It’s amazing: the idea of walking for peace on St George’s Day was put forward by the police themselves,” Mr Tooby said.

“It was to have been young people, of all faiths, walking together for unity and learning from past mistakes, which were the riots. Denying they happened, or saying that someone might want to cause trouble again, is not moving us on. The young people are those who will take Bradford further into the future. We don’t want these children to be the next generation picking up the bricks.”

Bradford is used to processions: the Sikh community held a four-hour parade through the city on 14 April in celebration of the annual Vaisakhi festival. The churches’ annual Whit Walks are also a feature of many towns and cities in the north-west.

“People have been very supportive. Everyone’s talking about this on the streets, and it would be very sad if the police and council were not listening,” Mr Tooby said.

Englishness

A fellow resident has introduced me to this amazing anthology.

Brewer's Anthology of England and the English
£15.99 £3.99
Publisher: CassellISBN-10: 0304365947

Author: David Milsted (editor)Binding: PaperbackPages: 532
Brewer's Anthology of England and the English is an English 'parliament of voices' - from the patriotic and laudatory to the dissident and choleric. With attention focused as never before on England - the 'sleeping partner' of a loosening Union, and the definitions of 'England' and 'Britain' under increasing scrutiny, it offers a timely, thought-provoking and richly entertaining contribution to an intensifying debate about nationhood. Drawing on an impressively wide range of historical and contemporary sources - from Bede to Betjeman, from Langland to Larkin, from Palmerston to Pink Floyd, and from Shakespeare to Schama - and encompassing extracts from novels, poems, plays, works of history, films, TV programmes, newspapers, letter and diaries, Brewer's Anthology of England and the English lays bare the attitudes, tastes, obsessions and prejudices of the English as they have developed over 1500 years of history

There'll always be an England

.........or will there?





















On St George's Day, EU wipes England off map
By Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor(Telegraph)

England has been wiped off a map of Europe drawn up by Brussels bureaucrats as part of a scheme that the Tories claim threatens to undermine the country's national identity.

The new European plan splits England into three zones that are joined with areas in other countries.

The "Manche" region covers part of southern England and northern France while the Atlantic region includes western parts of England, Portugal, Spain and Wales.

The North Sea region includes eastern England, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and parts of Germany.

A copy of the map, which makes no reference to England or Britain, has even renamed the English Channel the "Channel Sea". Each zone will have a "transnational regional assembly", although they will not have extensive powers. However, the zones are regarded as symbolically important by other countries.

German ministers claimed that the plan was about "underlying the goal of a united Europe" to "permanently overcome old borders" at a time when the "Constitution for Europe needs to regain momentum".

The Tories are drawing attention to the plan today, St George's Day. Eric Pickles, the shadow secretary of state for communities and local government, said: "We already knew that Gordon Brown had hoisted the white flag of surrender to the European constitution.

"Now the Labour government has been caught red-handed, conspiring with European bureaucrats to create a European super-state via the back door."

The disclosure of the European map comes as a YouGov poll commissioned by The Daily Telegraph showed that one third of people want England to have its own parliament.
Twenty per cent want England to be an independent country and for Britain to be broken up.