Orange Order calls for day of prayer for NHS, frontline workers, families, and government as it faces difficult decisions

The order said that for many hundreds of years, when the dangers of war raged and plagues and epidemics came upon the land, National Days of Prayer were held as a positive response.

It added that the date – 26th of May – has been deliberately chosen as it was the date during WWII when the entire British Army was trapped at Dunkirk. King George VI called for a National Day of Prayer on the same date in 1940, the first of seven such days of prayer during the war, it added.

“In a national broadcast, His Majesty urged the people of the United Kingdom to turn back to God in a spirit of repentance and plead for Divine help,” the order said.

Grand Master Edward Stevenson has issued a similar appeal on this, the 80th anniversary of that Day of Prayer.

“In this time of great trouble, when thousands of lives have been lost to the Coronavirus and many families have been left bereaved I would ask the Orange Institution to stand firm and take part in a day of prayer,” he said.

“As an institution, our faith is of great importance and it is appropriate at this time that we set aside a day to pray for our nation during this pandemic. We should pray for the NHS and the frontline workers, for families, and for our government who face difficult decisions.

“I would encourage as many members of the Orange Institution as possible to take part in this day of prayer. The day of prayer should be in the quiet of your home.” Suggested prayer points are at www.goli.org.uk/dayofprayer

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