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National Day of Prayer May 2, 2013

     Margaret Franklin and Daughters with President Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

The National Day or Prayer is celebrated by Americans of many religions. The Day is designed to emphasize prayer for America and its leadership and for its peoples. Its purpose is to unify us in asking for God's guidance and blessings upon our country.

The first National Day of Prayer was proclaimed by the Continental Congress in 1775. The second was established by President George Washington. Presidents John Adams and Abraham Lincoln also proclaimed National Days of Prayer. In 1928 Margaret Franklin and 200 Daughters of the King met with President Calvin Coolidge and suggested an annual Day of Prayer for the nation. On April 17, 1952, President Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each following president at an appropriate date of his choice. In 1972 a National Task Force was created to coordinate events. . In his 1983 declaration, Ronald Reagan said, "From General Washington's struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future." In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on the first Thursday of May. Two stated intentions of the National Day of Prayer were that it would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in prayer and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world.

As our nation struggles with continued economic insecurity, vast healthcare reform, as well as the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters, citizens of the United States are preparing to exercise their freedom to gather, worship, and pray. Millions will answer the call to prayer on May 2nd in observance of the 62nd annual National Day of Prayer. Organized events will be held in thousands of public venues where intercession will be made for America and its leadership. Daughters of the King are encouraged to participate in these events as well as to pray together and individually for our country and all things that concern the American people and this nation we call home.

National Council Meeting November 2012

While in Atlanta, the National Council worshipped at the Cathedral of St. Philip

A Vision Taking Shape

A Report from National President Pam Runyon

Since taking office in July, I have been working hard to get up to speed with the many responsibilities of my new position…quite a daunting task. But this difficult job has been made easier by a number of factors: a climate of encouragement and good will; a gifted National Council; an efficient office staff; and the continuing support of Bishop Romero as National Chaplain and Grace Sears as Advisor - all undergirded by the prayers of Daughters everywhere. I am so thankful for your precious prayers for me and for the National Council – please keep them coming!

In November the National Council came together in Atlanta for our first full meeting. We began with a retreat day of prayer and listening as we cast a vision for the Order during the next three years. Bishop Romero’s leadership and theme provided a wonderful start: “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.” Uplifted by the retreat, our meeting time was productive and joyful. As we carried out the Order’s business we found ourselves united in our desire to build on the solid foundation of our Order, and to increase in prayer, service and evangelism – to the glory of God.

We believe that our Council, our Celebration Chapter, should serve as a model for other chapters in the Order. Our celebration, our joy, and our love for God and for each other should be contagious. This past Triennial showed us that this can happen when we look joyfully to Jesus together and spread His love. The National Council began calling itself the Celebration Chapter when Grace Sears was National President and we were celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Order. The Order is now 128 years old and we are still celebrating! Here are just a few reasons why:

• The Order is growing steadily within the US and exploding internationally! Our total membership is over 25,000.
• We now have six wonderful full-time staff members at the National Office who keep up with this growth and provide the stability for the Order’s day‐to-day operation in the midst of our leadership transitions.
• We have a gifted National Council! God has graciously provided women of deep faith and many diverse talents to serve the Order.
• Council members are updating DOK materials and are visioning with our staff to improve office systems in order to serve our membership better. The 2012 National Handbook has undergone major revisions and is available now.
• Our finances are healthy. We have been able to allocate funds for national enrichment and international development, and have just contracted with a new printing company in order to publish future issues of The Royal Cross in a more timely manner.
• Our e-mail newsletter, Cross+Links, is enabling the National Council and National Office to communicate with our membership monthly. Sign up on the website now if you haven’t already!
• Daughters of the King in Honduras held their first National Assembly and elected national officers in November!
• The Daughters in the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast reassembled in January!
• New chapters were instituted in Panama and Uganda in January – the first in many years!
• A new chapter was instituted in Augsburg, Germany on February 3 and our first chapter in Italy is in formation in Rome!
• More Junior Daughters are transitioning to Senior Daughters, and some of these young women will take part in a spiritual pilgrimage to Taize, France next summer.

Through God’s blessing and the vision and leadership of Grace Sears, the Order is in a more peaceful place than it was a few years ago. This stability and the growth of our Endowment Fund have provided greater resources for us to spread the Kingdom - both nationally and internationally. For these reasons, we are dreaming big dreams for the Order. We hope to build on the precious legacy of all the dedicated Daughters who have come before us, remembering always that our main reason for celebration is the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which we are called to spread far and wide.

It is the dream of our Celebration Chapter that all Daughters may shine as beacons of light – sparks, flames, fireworks! – as we live into the foundational, life-changing vision of our Order:

“Empowered by the Holy Spirit, our vision as Daughters of the King is to know Jesus Christ, to make Him known to others, and to become reflections of God’s love throughout the world.”

In Christ’s Love and For His Sake,
Pam Runyon

National Council Retreat and Meeting November 2012

Front Door of Simpsonwood Retreat Center

"COME UNTO ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST"

Pam Sebura, Patsy Thomson, and Lyn Zolman at the retreat center. Please offer prayers for Patsy, who was recently hospitalized for heart problems (2/8/13).

National Council meeting at the National Office.