Tonight, the city council issued a proclamation calling Thursday, May 1, the Day of Prayer in Jordan. That day also is the National Day of Prayer.

Councilmembers Barry Ullmann, Jeanne Marnoff, Mike Shaw, Jeremy Goebel, Sally Schultz, and David Hanson each read a section of the proclamation, which said:

"Whereas, Jordan is a city that enjoys so many blessings: natural beauty, abudant resources, strong families, a diversified economy, native peoples, and immigrants from all over the world; and

"wherea, Jordan is challenged by the pervasive enemies of humankind: poverty, sickness, hunger, injustice, prejudice, discouragement, greed, crime, and alienation; and

"whereas, the citizens of Jordan have always had high standards of excellence, justice, generosity, freedom, equality, and progress and have faced their problems with resolve; and

"whereas, we know our city has been strengthened by the conscience-based actions of people of faith in all walks of life; and

"whereas, we know many of the challenges we face require a change of heart, which government cannot legislate or enforce, but which spiritual growth can bring about; and

"whereas, our Constitution begins with these words, 'We the people of the state of Minnesota, grateful to our God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

"Now, therefore, I, Sally Schultz, city council member, do hereby proclaim Thursday, May 1, 2008, as Day of Prayer in the city of Jordan and humbly encourage citizens of faith to turn to God, that we may open our hearts in thanksgiving for blessings received and to seek strength, wisdom, and encouragement to build a better Jordan for all our people."

Dave Gosewisch and the Rev. Joseph Thunker thanked the council for its support.

"It's not just on the Day of Prayer that we pray for you. We pray for you continually," Thunker said. "We pray for you by name."

Thunker and Gosewisch spoke on behalf of the churches of Jordan, they said.