Attendees raised their hands and voices in song at the National Day of Prayer event Thursday at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — People gathered on Thursday to offer prayers to many in need across the nation at local observances for the National Day of Prayer at events in Vienna, Parkersburg, Marietta and elsewhere in the area.

Vienna kicked off Thursday’s Day of Prayer observances when about 35 residents and city officials gathered around the flagpole in front of the city building at 8:30 a.m.

As they prayed for the city, the state and the country, they formed a circle around the pole, Mayor Randy Rapp said. Rather than join hands with concerns about COVID-19 still lingering, “we just basically put a hand on the person beside your shoulder, then we all touched the flagpole,” he said.

Over 50 people attended a gathering at Bicentennial Park near the Parkersburg Municipal Building and the Wood County Courthouse.

A variety of pastors, elected officials and others offered prayers for the nation, elected leaders at all levels, emergency responders, the military, the homeless, those deal with addiction and for all the people across the nation.

Porterfield Baptist Church Pastor Mark Eaton prayed for the U.S. Supreme Court at the National Day of Prayer observance Thursday in Marietta’s Muskingum Park. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“There is much to be praying about,” said organizer Pastor Dan Stevens. “We pray for our nation and for our leaders and we pray for our community.

“May it not be a show, but may it be a time of prayer.”

A couple of the speakers mentioned the upcoming Supreme Court decision regarding abortion and all the turmoil that was causing, asking for guidance and healing from above.

Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce said he has seen prayer work for many people during his time as mayor.

Prayer has been used throughout history as an anchor for many people “searching for guidance, hope, strength and wisdom in times of hardship,” the mayor said.

Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce spoke Thursday during the National Day of Prayer gathering at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg where over 50 people gathered to pray for the nation and its people. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“It has been used for insuring love and gratitude in seasons of joy,” he added. “And in public reflections on life’s many blessings and in quiet moments in life’s most difficult trials.

“People of nearly every background and faith have turned to prayer for comfort and inspiration. Prayer is a sacred right protected by religious liberty enshrined in the United States Constitution and it continues to lift our spirits as we navigate the challenges of our times.”

Many of the speakers talked of providing needed strength to those dealing with a variety of challenges in the world today. Others expressed the hope the nation and its people would return to the Biblical teachings of God and of Jesus Christ as some were trying to undermine those foundations and the hope those would be touched by God’s grace.

Pastor Russell Wooten, assistant pastor at Vienna Wesleyan Church, prayed for the people to be able to love one another and be able to be together in this world.

“You have been so good to us Lord,” he said. “We can’t do without you.

Over 50 people gathered at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg Thursday to commemorate the National Day of Prayer. Local pastors and others offered prayers for the nation and its people. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“This world needs a change Father God. We thank you Lord for all you do.”

More than 50 people came to the gazebo at Muskingum Park in Marietta for the Day of Prayer event there.

Pastor Rodney Lord, of Freedom Gate Church, spoke about great spiritual awakenings in the nation’s history and said he believed the country could be on the verge of another.

“We are awakening to our responsibility to engage the brokenness of our culture, and we are called to be a voice of truth, a voice of hope and a voice of love,” he said.

Porterfield Baptist Church Pastor Mark Eaton offered prayer for the U.S. Supreme Court in light of the recently leaked draft decision suggesting they might vote to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision and send authority on abortion rights back to the state level.

Pastor Russell Wooten, assistant pastor at Vienna Wesleyan Church, was one of the pastors who spoke at the National Day of Prayer event Thursday at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“I pray that your Holy Spirit will help truth to come out,” he said. “(I pray) that they will be filled with strength and courage, that they won’t be intimidated by this strategy of leaking the draft opinion.”

Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered an investigation into the leak, which resulted in the draft being made public earlier this week.

Eaton prayed for accurate and truthful discourse and media coverage about the decision and said the church needs to provide counsel, resources and encouragement to help women facing unplanned pregnancies to choose to give birth rather than have an abortion.

The Marietta event featured songs by local musician Taj Rohr that had many of the 50-some people in attendance on their feet, with their hands raised in the air.

Brett Dunlap and Evan Bevins can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com and ebevins@newsandsentinel.com