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323153304
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National Day of Prayer 5/2/91 [OA 8322]
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323153304
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National Day of Prayer 5/2/91 [OA 8322]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Backup Chronological Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13753
Folder ID Number:
13753-010
Folder Title:
National Day of Prayer 5/2/91 [OA 8322]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
21
3
6
RECEPTION, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER \ THE EAST ROOM
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1991 \ 7:30 A.M.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE, FOR A MOMENT
OF FELLOWSHIP AND REFLECTION.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH A GREAT DEAL TOGETHER, THESE
LAST FEW MONTHS -- AS COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS -- AND AS
AMERICANS.
WE'VE STRUGGLED IN A LAND FAR AWAY, FOR THE SAKE OF
PRINCIPLES NEAR TO HEART -- AND WE'VE PREVAILED FOR
PEACE.
- 2
WHILE THE WORLD'S CHALLENGES SEEM TO CHANGE SHAPE
ALMOST DAILY, OUR FUNDAMENTAL VALUES REMAIN CONSTANT.
OUR PRINCIPLES ENDURE.
THAT'S WHY THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BEARS
SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE, IN THIS THE 200TH YEAR OF OUR
BILL OF RIGHTS.
WE ARE -- AS EVER -- "ONE NATION UNDER GOD."
No NATION BETTER RECONCILES DIVERSITY OF FAITH WITH
UNITY OF PURPOSE.
- 3 -
OF ALL THE SOURCES OF THIS NATION'S STRENGTH -- ITS
LOVE OF FAMILY, ITS COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM -- NONE IS
MORE ENDURING OR INSPIRING THAN OUR FAITH IN GOD.
IN WAR AND IN PEACE, FAITH PROVIDES OUR SOLACE AND
OUR STRENGTH, OUR SHIELD AND OUR SHELTER. FAITH'S
LIGHT LEADS US FORWARD -- BRINGING STRENGTH IN
CHALLENGE, GRACE IN ADVERSITY, SOLACE IN HARDSHIP,
HUMILITY IN ACHIEVEMENT.
- 4 -
ABOVE ALL, FAITH GIVES US REASON TO PAUSE AND
REFLECT ON THE WONDERS OF THIS WORLD -- THE MANY GIFTS
AND GRACES BESTOWED TO US BY GOD.
TODAY AND ALWAYS, LET US PRAY FOR GOD'S CONTINUED
GUIDANCE: THAT HIS GRACE WILL SUSTAIN US -- AS IT HAS
THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES -- IN THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR LOVE, AND
YOUR PRAYERS.
#
#
#
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 26, 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
TONY SNOW TS
FROM:
MARK LANGE m4
SUBJECT:
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
On Thursday, May 2, 1991, which is designated as the
National Day of Prayer, you will host a 7:30 a.m. breakfast
reception in the East Room for about 150 religious leaders,
members of Congress, and the Cabinet. Your remarks (3 minutes,
on cards) will be after a mix-and-mingle. The event is closed
press.
(Lange/Simon)
April 25, 1991
11:30 A.M.
[PRAYER.DOC]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
RECEPTION, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
THE EAST ROOM -- CLOSED PRESS
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1991
7:30 A.M.
It's wonderful to have you all here, for a moment of
fellowship and reflection.
We've gone through a great deal together, these last few
months -- as colleagues and friends -- and as Americans.
We've struggled in a land far away, for the sake of
principles near to heart -- and we've prevailed for peace.
While the world's challenges seem to change shape
almost daily, our fundamental values remain constant. Our
principles endure.
That's why this year's National Day of Prayer bears special
significance, in this the 200th year of our Bill of Rights.
We are -- as ever -- "one nation under God."
No nation better reconciles diversity of faith with unity of
purpose. of all the sources of this nation's strength -- its
love of family, its commitment to freedom -- none is more
enduring or inspiring than our faith in God.
In war and in peace, faith provides our solace and our
strength, our shield and our shelter. Faith's light leads us
forward -- bringing strength in challenge, grace in adversity,
solace in hardship, humility in achievement.
2
Above all, faith gives us reason to pause and reflect on the
wonders of this world -- the many gifts and graces bestowed to us
by God.
Today and always, let us pray for God's continued guidance:
that His grace will sustain us -- as it has throughout our lives
-- in the challenges ahead.
Thank you all for your leadership, your love, and your
prayers.
# # #
(Lange/Simon)
April 25, 1991
11:30 A.M.
[PRAYER. DOC]
staffed
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
RECEPTION, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
THE EAST ROOM -- CLOSED PRESS
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1991
7:30 A.M.
It's wonderful to have you all here, for a moment of
fellowship and reflection.
We've gone through a great deal together, these last few
months -- as colleagues and friends -- and as Americans.
We've struggled in a land far away, for the sake of
principles near to heart -- and we've prevailed for peace.
While the world's challenges seem to change shape
almost daily, our fundamental values remain constant. Our
principles endure.
That's why this year's National Day of Prayer bears special
significance, in this the 200th year of our Bill of Rights.
We are -- as ever -- "one nation under God."
No nation better reconciles diversity of faith with unity of
purpose. Of all the sources of this nation's strength -- its
love of family, its commitment to freedom -- none is more
enduring or inspiring than our faith in God.
In war and in peace, faith provides our solace and our
strength, our shield and our shelter. Faith's light leads us
forward -- bringing strength in challenge, grace in adversity,
solace in hardship, humility in achievement.
2
Above all, faith gives us reason to pause and reflect on the
wonders of this world -- the many gifts and graces bestowed to us
by God.
Today and always, let us pray for God's continued guidance:
that His grace will sustain us -- as it has throughout our lives
-- in the challenges ahead.
Thank you all for your leadership, your love, and your
prayers.
# # #
(Lange/Simon)
April 25, 1991
11:30 A.M.
1
[PRAYER.DOC]
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS:
RECEPTION, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
THE EAST ROOM --- CLOSED PRESS
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1991
7:30 A.M.
It's wonderful to have you all here, for a moment of
fellowship.
We've gone through a great deal together, these last few
months -- as colleagues and friends -- and as Americans.
We've struggled in a land far away, for the sake of
principles near to heart.
In spite of a tyrant's will to wage war, we have prevailed
for the sake of peace.
And while the world's challenges seem to change shape
almost daily, our fundamental values remain constant. Our
principles endure.
That's why this year's National Day of Prayer bears special
significance, in this the 200th year of our Bill of Rights.
We are -- as ever -- "one nation under God."
No nation better reconciles diversity of faith with unity of
purpose. Of all the sources of this nation's strength -- its
love of family, its commitment to freedom -- none is more
enduring or inspiring than our faith in God.
2
In war and in peace, faith provides our solace and our
strength, our shield and our shelter. Faith's light leads us
forward -- bringing strength in challenge, grace in adversity,
solace in hardship, humility in achievement.
Above all, faith gives us reason to pause and reflect on the
wonders of this world -- the many gifts and graces bestowed to us
by God.
Today and always, let us pray for God's continued guidance:
that His grace will sustain us -- as it has throughout our lives
-- in the challenges ahead.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 25, 1991
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 1991
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
While we owe constant praise to Almighty God, we Americans
have added cause for thanksgiving on this National Day of Prayer
because of the recent coalition victory in the Persian Gulf.
However, our joy and gratitude are inspired by far more than
military triumph; on this special day of prayer held in the
200th year of our Bill of Rights, we give thanks for America's
long and abiding legacy of freedom.
During the past 200 years, the ideals enshrined in
our Bill of Rights have gained favor around the world. Even
where tyrants have sought to rule by repression and terror, the
spirit of freedom has endured. This is because, as Alexander
Hamilton once noted, "the Sacred Rights of Mankind are not to be
rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are
written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature,
by the Hand of the Divinity itself, and can never be erased or
obscured by mortal power." Almighty God has granted each of us
free will and inscribed in our hearts the unalienable dignity
and worth that come from being made in His image.
Because our dignity and freedom are gifts of our Creator,
we have a duty to cherish them, always using the latter to
choose life and goodness. On this occasion we do well to pray
for the wisdom and the resolve to do just that.
As an elevation of the soul's eyes to Heaven, prayer helps
us to distinguish between liberty and license -- to recognize
that which is the grateful exercise of free will and that which
is its corruption. Through prayer, we turn our hearts toward
their real home and, in so doing, gain a sense of proper
direction and higher purpose.
Faith and prayer are as important to guiding the
conduct of nations as they are to individuals. We Americans,
Abraham Lincoln once wrote, "have been the recipients of the
choicest bounties of heaven." A nation so richly blessed has
equally great responsibilities. Indeed, we have recently been
reminded that "much will be asked of those to whom much has
been given." The crucible of war has once again tested our
Nation's character, and it has shown us both the need for and
the power of prayer.
On this National Day of Prayer, let us acknowledge with
heartfelt remorse the many times we have failed to appreciate
the Lord's gifts and to obey His Commandments. Giving humble
thanks for His mercy, let us VOW to fulfill not only our
responsibilities but also our potential as one Nation under God.
Most important, let us make our prayers pleasing to Him by the
regular practice of public and private virtue and by a genuine
renewal of America's moral heritage. As Scripture says,
people." "righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any
more
(OVER)
2
Since the approval of the joint resolution of the Congress
on April 17, 1952, calling for the designation of a specific
day to be set aside each year as a National Day of Prayer,
recognition of such a day has become a cherished annual event.
Each President since then has proclaimed a National Day of
Prayer annually under the authority of that resolution,
continuing a tradition that dates back to the Continental
Congress. By Public Law 100-307, the first Thursday in May
of each year has been set aside as a National Day of Prayer.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 2, 1991,
as a National Day of Prayer. I urge all Americans to gather
together on that day in homes and places of worship to pray,
each after his or her own manner, for God's continued blessing
on our families and our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-fifth
day of April
,
in the year of our
Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-one, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and fifteenth.
GEORGE BUSH
# # #