WASHINGTON– As the sun fell over the Washington monument and into the western sky, thousands of Americans offered words to God on the National Day of Prayer Thursday evening – in houses of worship and homes across the country watching the live broadcasts and in person across the lawn of the National Mall, outside the Bible Museum and inside the museum’s studio.

From Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, the old and young, Black and White, Former Vice President Mike Pence and President Joe Biden – even those of different faith traditions – Americans came together for prayer.

“Throughout our history, Americans of many religions and belief systems have turned to prayer for strength, hope, and guidance,” Biden said in his proclamation. “I know how much it matters because I’ve seen the power of prayer in my own life,” Biden said later in his evening address. “Like so many of you,  prayer has nourished my soul,  delivered strength, and hope, and guidance when I needed it most,  and carried me and my family through moments of fathomless grief and despair.”

The event featured more prayer and less politics, aiming for unity, but political division arose in the commentaries afterward. Even the live stream frayed into two competing events. And after critics pointed out that Biden left God’s name out of his proclamation issued from the White House, in his evening address, the president mentioned God twice.

Fox TV host Pete Hegseth invited Franklin Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, to close out the Fox News Primetime segment with a prayer to add onto the occasion. Franklin Graham, on the same day, condemned President Biden for leaving God’s name out of the White House proclamation designating May 6 as the National Day of Prayer on national TV. 

“Father we pray for our country, we pray for the president and we pray for all of the folks there at Fox news,” Graham said. “Thank you Father that you love and you care for us, you sent your son Jesus Christ to this earth to die for our sins and it is my prayer that many people put their trust in him, in his name we pray, Amen.”

Perhaps Graham was thinking about his father Billy Graham because in 1952, the same year President Harry Truman designated the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer, Billy Graham held a crusade at the D.C. Armory.

“What a thrilling, glorious thing it would be to see the leaders of our country today kneeling before Almighty God in prayer,” he told 40,000 people on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 3,1952.

While Biden’s proclamation published online from the White House did not reference God, in his evening address he mentioned God twice and prayed for an end to the COVID-19 crisis.

“But you know, we have been blessed by an answer to this crisis,” Biden said. “By the grace of God and the extraordinary work of researchers and  scientists, we have vaccines that have proven to be safe and effective.”

In closing, Biden said:

“It’s up to you to get vaccinated.  But I hope and pray that all Americans make that choice to save their lives, and the lives of their loved ones— and help us come through this again safely— including, in-person, at our houses of worship.  And I pray that our nation will stand united— to defeat the challenges of our time— to hear one another again, to see one another again — and to build a stronger, more compassionate, and more just America. Thank you for your prayers. And may God bless you and all those you love  and are concerned about, on this day and every day.” 

In the proclamation issued earlier in the day, the president addressed many issues that he aims to correct in office, acknowledging that prayer is a useful tool.

“Prayer has nourished countless souls and powered moral movements — including essential fights against racial injustice, child labor, and infringement on the rights of disabled Americans,” Biden said. “Prayer is also a daily practice for many, whether it is to ask for help or strength, or to give thanks over blessings bestowed.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence referenced the Bible verse Philippians 4:6, encouraging Americans to not be anxious but to pray for the country and the president.

“Pray for the families that have suffered loss and those still suffering from the physical, emotional and financial hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Pray for all of our nation's leaders that God would grant them wisdom and discernment to lead our nation in these challenging times. 

“We also encourage you to pray for the courageous men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe, all of those in the armed forces of the United States, serving at home and abroad, to our brave law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders serving here at home. They all deserve your prayers. 

“On this National Day of Prayer, whatever our differences, they fade to insignificance as each one of us appeals for God's grace and his blessing.”

But at a time when the nation remains deeply divided politically, God appears to be in the middle of a tug-of-war after four years of Former President Donald Trump, who counted evangelicals among his strong supporters. 

“I am grateful for a God who is bigger than any challenges we face,” tweeted Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), in response to reports about Biden. “Today and everyday, we turn to Him knowing He will see us through!” 

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said in a tweet, “After our permit was denied, for the first time in 70 years, there will be NO PUBLIC witness at the U.S. Capitol Building for the National Day Of Prayer!"… "Brothers and sisters, free speech is in danger today in America.”

Since the Jan. 6, U.S. Capitol riots the building has remained closed and no permits have been issued. Throughout history, national faith observances and invitations have depended on who was in the White House.

In 1795, Then-President George Washington proclaimed a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. In April 1863, Then-President Abraham Lincoln signed a Congressional resolution during the Civil War, which called for a day of fasting and prayer. Former President Barack Obama dropped the National Day of Prayer service at the White House.

This year there were two major broadcasts online to commemorate the National Day of Prayer events and hundreds of smaller events across the country.

The National Day of Prayer Broadcast was live streamed from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., owned by evangelical Hobby Lobby president Steve Green. The program was hosted by Andrew Palau and Kathy Branzell, with music from Christian artists Shane and Shane. Special guests included Greg Laurie, T.D. Jakes, Tony Evans, Anne Graham Lotz and Jack Graham.

Pray.com also hosted a live, online National Day of Prayer event. In Los Angeles, Steve Gatena, co-founder of Pray.com, hosted a program that featured prominent ministers, musicians and Pence and Biden in pre-recorded messages.

"We are honored and blessed to have the President of the United States join Pray.com's National Day of Prayer event with a pre-recorded message to help strengthen and unify our nation as we work to defeat this global Pandemic,” Gatena said in a statement. “We are humbled to take part in this unifying moment in our nation's history, that will include the President and several national political leaders who are coming together to join millions of people from all backgrounds to ask God to bring hope, healing, and health to all our communities.”

Political leaders and pastors from both sides of the political aisle joined like Rev. Ronnie Floyd, the former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Greg Laurie, Sam Collier, Dr. Ed Young Sr., Skip Heitzigand and Samuel Rodriguez.

Rev. Ianther Mills, the pastor of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C, held her event for the National Day of Prayer Service on Zoom.

Members of the Proud Boys set fire to the Asbury congregation’s Black Lives Matter sign earlier this year. At the service, Mills prayed for racial reconciliation. “I am always praying for and striving for a beloved community,” she said, referencing the late Civil Rights leader John Lewis.

“We had our ministry area leaders lead the prayers,” Mills told Religion Unplugged. “As we covered the seven centers of influence, we focused on the pressing concerns of the pandemic, political division, systemic racism, rising White supremacy, policing in America, healthcare and economic justice.”

Senior contributor Hamil Harris is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland College Park and has been a lecturer at Morgan State University. Harris is minister at the Glenarden Church of Christ and a police chaplain. A longtime reporter at The Washington Post, Harris was on the team of Post reporters that published the series “Being a Black Man.” He also was the reporter on the video project that accompanied the series that won two Emmy Awards, the Casey Medal and the Peabody Award. In addition to writing for ReligionUnplugged, Harris contributes to outlets such as The Washington Post, USA Today, The Christian Chronicle and the Washington Informer.