Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, organizers are planning a large National Mall gathering on Sunday, May 17, for a national day of prayer, worship, and rededication of the U.S. as “One Nation Under God.”
The event, called “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving,” is scheduled from 10:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Gates will open at 9 a.m. It will take place near 12th Street on the Mall, with public entry through the 7th Street area between Madison and Jefferson drives. Attendance is free, but registration is required at Rededicate250.org.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., issued a May 6 letter inviting Americans of faith to attend, describing the gathering as a “unique moment for believers” to “humble ourselves and to rededicate America to God.”
“This is a call for unity, repentance, and hope, and one that truly transcends politics,” Johnson wrote in the letter emailed to Zeale News. “I invite you all to join us on Sunday, May 17, on the National Mall for what I believe is a civilizational moment in the history of our country. This will be the first time that Americans will gather together to rededicate the United States as One Nation Under God.”
The event will feature prominent Catholic voices, including Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, Bishop Robert Barron, New York Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and actor Jonathan Roumie. Other well-known speakers include War Secretary Pete Hegseth, author and radio host Eric Metaxas, Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn, evangelist Franklin Graham, neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and White House Faith Office Senior Adviser Paula White.
The day will include worship segments and historical reflections organized around three themes: “The Miracles That Made Us,” “The Miracles Still in Our Midst,” and “A New Birth of Faith and Freedom.” It will close with a concert featuring Christian artists Chris Tomlin, Blessing Offor, and Aodhán King.
The gathering falls on the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress’ day of “prayer, fasting, and humiliation,” which occurred just weeks before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
“Through worship, prayer, and storytelling, we will remember the people, sacrifices, and foundational moments in which God has shaped our history,” Johnson said in the letter. “By the end, I hope you will see the truth in Benjamin Franklin’s famous admonition: ‘that God governs in the affairs of men.’”