Denise Vickers-Leon
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all religions and faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Harry S. Truman. Each year, Congress calls upon the President of the United States to proclaim designation of the first Thursday in May as “National Day of Prayer.” This year, President Biden proclaimed May 4 as a National Day of Prayer. This seems a befitting endeavor when considering the upheaval and turmoil that almost every state is experiencing on a daily basis. To commemorate the occasion, religious leaders of various denominations came together to pray with and for our community and country.
The event was held outside of the Jefferson County Courthouse on an unusually hot and humid noon spring day. The uncanny weather and the noise of the constant traffic in the roundabout did not deter the crowd of adults and children of all ages and ethnicities who came together as one for the uplifting of all.
Eddie Yon, who served as the Master of Ceremony, enthusiastically greeted the audience. This greeting was followed by a rendition of “For the Beauty of the Earth,” by an ensemble of students from different schools. Prayers were then rendered by nine regional dignitaries on the topics of: families, educators, our community, our local leaders, unity, our state and leadership, our nation and leadership, our world and leadership and for those who are suffering. Some of the prayers brought tears to the eyes of many listeners, others brought smiles and even some hearty laughs but they reflected praise and hope for the present and future.
You must be logged in to post a comment.