National Day Of Prayer Observed Across Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Priests, pastors, and parishioners celebrated a virtual National Day of Prayer across southern California, Thursday.

The 2020 theme "Pray God's Glory Across the Earth," is based on an Old Testament book of Habakkuk 2:14: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

Celebrating mass and worship has looked much different in the time of the coronavirus shutdown. The faithful have turned to praying online and sharing the message with one another while social distancing. The National Day of Prayer will be no different.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump referred to the times of coronavirus in his proclamation, saying, "during the past weeks and months, our heads have bowed at places outside of our typical houses of worship, whispering in silent solitude for God to renew our spirit and carry us through unforeseen and seemingly unbearable hardships."

The National Day of Prayer began with a bill signed by president Harry S. Truman in 1952. Each subsequent president would approve a National Day of Prayer of his choice. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan selected the first Thursday of May as the annual National Day of Prayer. Though the law was challenged in 2010, and and called "unconstitutional" by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb, that was overturned by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Trump wrote in his proclamation, "even though we have been unable to gather together in fellowship with our church families, we are still connected through prayer and the calming reassurance that God will lead us through life's many valleys. In the midst of these trying and unprecedented times, we are reminded that just as those before us turned to God in their darkest hours, so must we seek His wisdom, strength, and healing hand."

In Orange County, an observance online would stream from facebook.com/PastorsFellowshipOC at 7 p.m. featuring pastors from San Clemente.

Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa will livestream from Facebook, Youtube and the Boxcast App at noon.