This ruling has the potential to impact National Day of Prayer proclamations across our nation.

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On Thursday, May 10, 2012, just one week after a record turnout for the National Day of Prayer across the country, when millions gathered from coast to coast to unite in prayer, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that the governor’s proclamation for a state Day of Prayer violates the Constitutions’ provisions for religious liberty. The Colorado Court of Appeals also requested that a trial court decide if a governor should be prohibited from making such proclamations in the future, as well as a permanent ban on state prayer events. The judges did not weigh the National Day of Prayer proclamations, which federal courts have ruled are constitutional.

This case began in 2008 against former Governor Bill Ritter by a small group of atheists headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Judge Mullins of the District Court in Denver, Colorado, initially dismissed the case on October 28, 2010, declaring “…there is nothing controversial about a restatement of a right protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution…the proclamation [does] not have the force and effect of law, and even if [it] did, the language does not support the foundation for a state religion, but only an acknowledgment of the rights of the citizenry as recognized as far back as the Declaration of Independence.”

If Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers do not appeal this decision to the state Supreme Court, it is likely there will be national impact as a direct result.

To read the rest of the article and to sign a petition encouraging Colorado Governor Hickenlooper and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers to prepare a vigorous defense against the decision by the Colorado Court of Appeals, please click here.

Virginia Morton read Jeremiah 17:5-8:

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.’

‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.’”

Pastor Adam Meisberger delivering the sermon.

The sermon: “God’s Transformational Blessing for Our Nation Starts with You” was delivered by Adam Meisberger, Pastor at Bethel Baptist Church. Pastor Meisberger said that there are only two types of people in this world and throughout eternity. There is only one thing that divides all of humanity. Is the person’s trust and confidence and assurance and faith in the Lord?

Our only concern should be: Where is our confidence? If our confidence is not in the Lord, we will not be blessed by Him. Where is our nation’s confidence? Christians cannot point their fingers of blame at our government, at our media, or at anyone else. Christians also are to blame for our nation’s direction. We must take the plank out of our own eyes before we can take the speck out of someone else’s eye.

A Christian must ask this very serious question: Is his/her sole confidence in his/her life the Lord God Almighty?

If you lost your house tomorrow, would you still have confidence in Him? If your bank accounts were suddenly gone, would you still have confidence in Him? If you had no health insurance, would you still have confidence in Him?

For revival to spread throughout our country, so that our country can once again be a “Nation under God,” Christians must be entirely sold out to Christ. Our sole confidence must be in the Lord God Almighty!

To hear Pastor Meisberger’s message in its entirety, click here.

The evening concluded with prayers for our Government, Military, Education, Families, Businesses, Media and Church by Marsha Fishbaugh, Pastor Ludwell Brown, Laura Burt, Art Fellows, Mike Garrett, Jithendra Manne and Ed Lyons, respectively.

Thank you to all who showed up at our noon National Day of Prayer event on the Culpeper Courthouse lawn today, May 3rd. Approximately 125 people were in attendance. It was good to see so many who serve our community in areas of government, police, fire and rescue, education, military, business and worship.

A portion of those who attended the noon NDOP event on the Culpeper Courthouse lawn.

Special thanks to Maddie Wheeler, George Bowles, Doug & Anne Farmer, Darlene Neff, Troy Smith, Steve Buchanan, and Tim Smith who led us in prayer for our country’s education, church, family, government, military, media and businesses, respectively.

Dave Wheatley led us in songs of worship, and Pastor Baker Rigg of Church on the Rise encouraged us to truly know God more intimately. Baker said the U.S. is at a critical juncture. To truly remain a nation under God, we will need a full-scale revival. To have that, we must be obedient to Jesus’ teaching to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love others as ourselves. 

Pastor Baker Rigg of Church on the Rise

Wouldn’t it be great if a revival broke out in Culpeper that spread across this nation?

Yes, Pastor Rigg, we agree that it would indeed!

For six Sundays, beginning February 21, 2010, services will be held at different churches each week. The services will be conducted in the tradition of the host church, with a guest pastor providing the message.

The focus for the six week Lenten season will be the Sermon on the Mount. Scriptures will focus on the book of Matthew, chapters 5-7.

Local ministers in Culpeper are excited about this Lenten opportunity. Charlene Phillips, past President of the Culpeper Ministerial Association, encourages participation from all churches saying, “If we all participate, as pastors, then it will be successful.”

The idea for a community Lenten service was shared at the December 2009 ministerial meeting, by Dan McDowell. Having recently moved to Culpeper from Ohio, McDowell attended similar services on Sunday nights there. “It helps others understand other traditions and worship-style varieties of different churches,” he says adding, “It really brings the community together allowing everyone to experience different flavors of different churches.”

McDowell and Josh Orndorff, intern at Culpeper United Methodist Church, are have finalized the schedule of church locations and guest ministers.

Date Location Minister

For more information, contact Dan McDowell at d_e_Mcdowell@yahoo.com

Dear [first name],

When we officially stopped the weekly Pray Culpeper gatherings in the summer of 2007 after meeting consistently for two years, I asked the LORD to have at least three pastors commit to come together to pray weekly.

Well, yesterday (Nov 4) at our Pray Culpeper gathering, we had three pastors for the first time in several years. I’d like to say a special thank you to pastors Baker Rigg, Brad Hales, and GW Dameron for coming and for your commitment to praying with others for Jesus to be LORD of Culpeper.

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

I’d also like to say thank you to Virginia Morton and Dewey McDonnell for coming and for your faithful support of Pray Culpeper over the past four years. You both have been such an encouragement to me.

We were also blessed yesterday with the presence and prayers of Sheran Rigg, Baker’s wife. Sheran normally works on Wednesdays, but happened to be off yesterday. Sheran and Baker have seven children, all of whom were homeschooled by Sheran. Baker and Sheran are hosting a weekly community prayer gathering on Monday evenings starting at 7 pm at Church on the Rise (1136 Sperryville Pike, Culpeper, VA 22701). I have found that very rewarding. If you’re available, you’re invited to come to that.

Another breakthrough happened yesterday. Dewey hung our large Pray Culpeper banner for the very first time outside of Reformation Luther Church facing Main Street for several hours before, during, and after we prayed. By doing that, everyone driving down Main Street could see God’s call for people to pray. Thank you Dewey.

One last thing. I just received an email from Chauncey Hutter, Jr this afternoon announcing “Awake! Arise!” in Charlottesville, VA on Sat Nov 21. This is a one-day retreat of worship, prayer and practical teaching on drawing close to the presence of the Lord and encountering Jesus in a way which awakens the soul! I definitely plan to come. If you’d like to learn more, see http://bit.ly/3gOFix

Hope to see you soon!

Blessings to pray, pray, pray!

Randy Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy

P.S. If are interested in Joining our World-Wide Prayer Community, please subscribe to the Pray Culpeper blog at http://prayculpeper.org. We are now posting regularly to share what’s happening locally and regionally regarding prayer and transformation. You also will be exposed to special opportunities to invest in yourself and the Kingdom of God. Be sure to let your friends know too. Thanks.