From coast to coast, Americans are marking the National Day of Prayer today. In the nation’s capital, the observance follows this week’s 17th annual Bible Reading Marathon, which concludes with final readings from the Book of Revelation today on the west lawn of the U-S Capitol. It’s been 90 hours non-stop with volunteer readers including kids, clergy and politicians. Co-director Reverend Michael Hall says a variety of English translations are being used along with more than 80 non-English translations. Hall says while some disagree, participants believe they are exercising a key freedom by reading publicly from the Bible so close to the seat of power of the country. The same, they say, goes for public prayer. But one opponent of the congressional declaration of an annual national prayer day, the Reverend Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says it’s not the role of government to encourage prayer. Today’s events include one with President Bush at the White House and another with government officials on Capitol Hill. Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer, says she believes that prayer is holding back God’s judgment on America.

- AP