Local National Day of Prayer Ceremonies Take Place Today

Today is the National Day of Prayer and communities, churches, and groups of the faithful will gather to pray for our country.

In 1952, Congress designated the first Thursday of May as day for people across the country to turn to God in prayer and meditation.

Each year since then, the President has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama designated Thursday, May 5 as the 2016 National Day of Prayer, an annual tradition that dates back to the Truman administration.

“In times of steady calm and extraordinary change alike, Americans of all walks of life have long turned to prayer to seek refuge, demonstrate gratitude, and discover peace,” Obama said in a statement from the White House. “Sustaining us through great uncertainty and moments of sorrow, prayer allows us an outlet for introspection, and for expressing our hopes, desires, and fears. It offers strength in the face of hardship, and redemption when we falter. Our country was founded on the idea of religious freedom, and we have long upheld the belief that how we pray and whether we pray are matters reserved for an individual’s own conscience.

Communities across North Georgia will hold a special time of prayer today- most taking place at noon.

In Hart County, pastors from seven area churches will gather on the lawn of the court house square at noon to pray for our country.

The Interdenominational Women’s Bible Study has been organizing the county’s National Day of Prayer service for the past nine years.

The Hart County High School Color Guard will present the colors.

Franklin County will hold services on the grounds of the County Courthouse in Carnesville.

And in Stephens County, the annual National Day of Prayer observance is set to start at noon today on the lawn of the historic Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa.

Again this year, the Stephens County High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes is organizing the county’s Day of Prayer ceremony.

At all of the services on the National Day of Prayer seven specific areas are prayed for, including the country’s government and leadership, education, the media, the economy, churches, the family unit and the military.

921 WLHR will carry the Hart County National Day of Prayer live at noon from the square in downtown Hartwell.