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PARKERSBURG -- The National Day of Prayer, an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, will be held May 4 at several venues throughout the Mid Ohio Valley.
The hour-long event is led by area pastors and government leaders to pray for the nation and its people.
Washington County will hold its observance at noon May 4 at the gazebo on Front Street. Pastor Rodney Lord will spearhead the event and will be joined by many other community leaders.
Parkersburg will hold a Day of Prayer at noon May 4 at Bicentennial Park on Market Street. Mayor Tom Joyce is among speakers who will join Tim Baer, the event organizer.
Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp will lead the observance at 8:30 a.m. May 4 at the Vienna City Building.
Pastor Steve Thibault is organizing the event in Williamstown at the Williamstown City Building at noon May 4.
McConnelsville-area residents will meet at noon May 4 at the Morgan County Courthouse. Pastor Steve Smith is the organizer and the public is welcome and encouraged to join any of these prayer times.
The theme for this year's National Day of Prayer is "Pray Fervently in Righteousness and Avail Much" James 5:16B. Participants are encouraged to pray for family, church, business and workplace, education, military, government and the arts, media and entertainment arena.
President Harry Truman made the National Day of Prayer an annual observance in 1952, stating: "In times of national crisis when we are striving to strengthen the foundations of peace … we stand in special need of Divine support."
Why pray? To which Pastor Rodney Lord, the Washington County coordinator, responds:
"Prayer changes things. This nation is currently having lots of conflict and strife. Our young people need to know the God of their forefathers and understand He has good plans for their future," he said. "If this nation will turn back to a loving God and ask Him to help us, we can see that positive change taking place in our country. We encourage people throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley to gather in large numbers at these events to participate in praying for our nation."