The economy is in the dumps and the country is at war -- the time for prayer is now, said Brian Toon, vice chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.
"We have got some things to fix, but let's be hopeful about it, and let's put our trust in the Lord," Toon said by phone from his office in Colorado Springs. "Prayer works."
In its 58th year, the theme for this year's National Day of Prayer, set for Thursday, is "Prayer … America's Hope." Events across the region are planned to mark the day, including prayer breakfasts, churches all day for individual prayer, and community gatherings at flagpoles and city halls.
The National Day of Prayer seeks to encourage people of all faiths to pray for the nation, Toon said. Created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, and signed into law by President Harry Truman, the observance prompts millions of people across the nation to come together on the same day each year in prayer.
The task force is a privately funded organization that works to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer, according to its Web site. The group helps organize and support thousands of prayer events across the nation, including providing posters, videos and prayer guides, Toon said.
"God is but a prayer away," said Shawn Mitchell, senior pastor of New Venture Christian Fellowship Church in Oceanside, chaplain for the San Diego Chargers and keynote speaker for a prayer breakfast scheduled that day in Murrieta. "When we begin, not only as individuals and families, but as a country, to make prayer our first priority instead of as a last resort, we begin to see things happen."
Churches are playing a large role in organizing local observances. In Vista, for example, five churches have planned a large community gathering at the city's memorial flagpole, said Janet Harper, one of the organizers.
"This is prayer for the future of this country," Harper said. "As we join other organizations around the United States to pray, it's a national effort to pray that God would let his unfailing love rest upon this nation."
Vista's event will include the national anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, local church bands, a children's choir, and readings of the presidential and state proclamations for the Day of Prayer, she said.
Several non-church gatherings are also planned. For nearly 10 years, San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn has led a prayer gathering at the flagpole at the County Administration Building.
The first year he did it, a handful of people turned into dozens, he said.
"It was kind of like the Red Sea parted -- all kinds of people came out," Horn said. Since then, it's been a popular annual tradition, he said.
"It's kind of neat," he said. "It's voluntary, on their lunch hour, and there are obviously a group of us who would like to pray for the county, country and state -- now more than ever. I think we need it; we need to invoke some higher power to assist us because we have tons of problems -- (such as) the economy and terrorists."
For those who wish to honor the occasion on their own, quietly, in a chapel, churches and other houses of worship across the area have plans to keep their doors open, including Solana Beach Presbyterian Church.
Carolyn Jones, the church's prayer deacon, said those who stop by can take comfort in knowing that others across the nation are praying at the same time for the same blessings.
"This is for people to pray on that day knowing that people all over the nation, in every walk of life, are praying with one common love for this nation to be in alignment with a higher good and all that is right in the country," she said.
BREAKOUT BOX
Local National Day of Prayer Observances
Many events across North San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County will mark the 58th annual National Day of Prayer on Thursday. More events are scheduled as the day draws nearer. Visit ndptf.org or ndpsandiego.org:
CARLSBAD
Where: Carlsbad City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
When: 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Details: Local and military religious leaders, military personnel and students from Carlsbad High School's Fellowship of Athletes will lead prayers in the courtyard at City Hall.
Contact: Roger Moyer, (760) 603-9777
CARMEL VALLEY
Where: Grace Point Church, 13340 Hayford Way
When: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Details: Jeff Detrow from the Star 94.1 "Jeff & Jer Showgram"
Contact: Dave Baker, (858) 353-0842
ESCONDIDO
Where: California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd.
When: 7 to 9 a.m.
Details: Prayer breakfast; guest speaker is Tom Joyce, former fighter pilot and Pentagon 9/11 survivor
Contact: Richard Bridgman, (760) 740-0044
Where: Grace Lutheran Church, 643 W. 13th Ave.
When: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Details: Open sanctuary for quiet prayer, except for service from 8:20-9:20 a.m.
Contact: Church office, (760) 745-0831
Where: Community Lutheran Church, 3575 E. Valley Parkway
When: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Details: Open sanctuary for quiet prayer; reservations available
Contact: Church office, (760) 739-1650
Where: Next to the fountain at Escondido City Hall, 201 N. Broadway
When: Noon to 1 p.m.
Details: Hosted by Calvary Chapel Escondido
Contact: Pastor Richard Raher, (760) 489-6255
Where: Calvary Chapel of Escondido, 1675 Seven Oakes Road, Escondido
When: 7 p.m.
Details: Prayer
Contact: Pastor Miles DeBenedictis, (760) 489-6255
FALLBROOK
Where: Living Waters Christian Fellowship, 200 Reche Road
When: 7 p.m.
Details: Fallbrook First Baptist Church will also be participating in this prayer service
Contact: (760) 728-1685
LAKE ELSINORE
Where: Lambs Fellowship, 21901 Railroad Canyon Road
When: 4:30 p.m.
Details: Community prayer
Contact: Kim Oliver, (951) 674-9179
MENIFEE:
Where: Eagle Ridge Church, 25891 Holland Road
When: 7 to 8 p.m.
Details: National Day of Prayer observance
Contact: Pastor Victor Colombo, (951) 679-3239
MURRIETA
Where: Murrieta City Hall, 26442 Beckman Court
When: Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Details: Civic observance of National Day of Prayer
Contact: Pastor Brian Bell, (951) 677-5667
Where: Calvary Chapel Conference Center, Murrieta Hot Springs, 39405 Murrieta Hot Springs Road (at Margarita Road)
When: 6:45 to 9 a.m.
Details: Prayer breakfast featuring Shawn Mitchell, chaplain for the San Diego Chargers, and music from The Gospel Truth Quartet
Contact: Trudy Thomas, (909) 732-8361
OCEANSIDE:
Where: Calvary Chapel Oceanside, upper room, 3715 Oceanic Way
When: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: Open prayer
Contact: Harry Dobbins, (760) 724-4004
SAN DIEGO
Where: East side of County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway
When: 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Details: Annual prayer at the flagpole observance led by County Supervisor Bill Horn
Contact: John Culea, (619) 531-4709
SAN MARCOS
Where: San Marcos City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive
When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Details: San Marcos City Hall prayer gathering
Contact: Pastor Scott Koop, (760) 759-2233
SOLANA BEACH
Where: Lower chapel at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, 120 Stevens Ave.
When: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Details: Open prayer in chapel; prayer materials available
Contact: Carolyn Jones, (858) 756-5301
VISTA
Where: Community Memorial Flagpole at E. Broadway and S. Citrus
When: 6 to 7:15 p.m.
Details: Musicians, religious leaders, proclamations and prayers
Contact: Janet Harper, (760) 445-0243
