MESSAGE … Pettisville Missionary Church Pastor Kent Norr delivers a message to everyone in attendance before also delivering the National Prayer. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER, STAFF)
By: Jacob Kessler
The National Day of Prayer is observed on the first Thursday in May every year in the United States. This day of observance, which was designated by the United States Congress, asks people to “turn to God in prayer and meditation.”
It was first observed back in 1952 when it was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988 President Reagan amended the law and set the date of observance to the first Thursday in May.
Its roots fall even further back into history though when in 1775, the Continental Congress asked those living in the colonies to pray for wisdom for the forming of the new nation.
This year’s observances took place in Bryan at the Courthouse Square Gazebo, the Edgerton Village Hall Gymnasium, The Archbold Middle School, The Hillsdale Courthouse, Sacred Heart Church & Montpelier Ministerial Association, and the Pioneer Village Hall Gazebo.
The observance held at the Archbold Middle School took place at 7:00 p.m. and featured a short worship service and prayers for families, churches, workplaces, education, the military, government officials, art/media/entertainment and medical/care facilities.
Songs were also sung, and messages were delivered by local Pastors from the Archbold United Methodist Church and the Pettisville Missionary Church.
Prayers for each of the groups mentioned before were delivered by individuals from the local community.
Karla Sharp delivered a prayer about family, Pastor Jason Sharp from the Archbold United Methodist Church delivered the prayer for churches, Julie Brink from the Fulton County Visitors Bureau delivered the prayer for workplaces, and Archbold High School Principal Royal Short delivered the prayer for education.
More prayers were also observed including a prayer delivered by Veteran Aaron Babcock for the military, a prayer for the government delivered by Archbold Mayor Brad Grime, a prayer for the Arts/Media and Entertainment delivered by Caleb Wyse from the Black Swamp Arts Council, and a prayer for medical and care facilities delivered by Dr. Brian Custer from Archbold Family Dental.
The National Day of Prayer is not observed by everyone in mass. However, it is a day that, like Christmas or Thanksgiving, is there to remind us we are not alone. It reminds us to think about everything and everyone around us.
Who and what needs help. Every day is a day of prayer and Sundays are a day to pray together with the congregation.
But on May 4th each year, people from different churches and denominations get together to pray for those things in life that truly need support.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com
