Thursday, February 23, 2012 2:13 pm

NASHVILLE – An official Tennessee Day of Prayer would be established under legislation scheduled for consideration by the full House of Representatives on Thursday.

The bill, House Bill 2321, is sponsored by Representative Mark Pody (R—Lebanon) and will align Tennessee on the calendar with the national Day of Prayer which, as designated by Congress, is the first Thursday in May. Tennessee would become the seventh State to establish an official day of prayer.

The National Day of Prayer was established by Congress in 1952, and in 1988 was set as the first Thursday in May.

“Every year, Americans come together to pray for the well being of this great country,” stated Pody. “Along those same lines, I believe it is appropriate for Tennesseans to come together, humble themselves, and intercede on behalf of our State.”

Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R—Nashville) added, “Tennesseans are a prayerful people and this legislation is consistent with the spirit of the principles on which our great State was founded.”

The bill has already passed the Senate and now is on its way to the Governor to be signed into law.