GEORGETOWN - People from all walks of life, every age and many area churches will be meeting on Courthouse Square in Georgetown, on Thursday, May 1, to join with others around the country for the National Day of Prayer. The event was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The first Thursday of May has been designated the National Day of Prayer and Brown County residents will be participating in events throughout the day. The theme for the 2008 National Day of Prayer is "Prayer! America's Strength and Shield."
The day will kick off at the Brown County Administration Building flag pole at noon, with Brown County Auditor Doug Green praying for local government officials. A canopy will be set up on the lawn of the courthouse in Georgetown and continuous prayer will be offered from 1 to 7 p.m. for the seven centers of power.
Everyone is invited to stop by the canopy during the day and offer personal prayers. The focus for the first hour will be on government officials, who will be prayed for by name.
From 1 to 2 p.m. the focus will be on Brown County churches. Area businesses will be prayed for from 2 to 3 p.m. and from 3 to 4 p.m. the focus will be on area educators. Families will be prayed for from 4 to 5 p.m. and the military will be the focus of prayer from 5 to 6 p.m. The media will receive prayers from 6 to 7 p.m.
"After passing my 94th birthday and looking back over my life," said Brown County Task Force member Paul Snider, "prayer has played a big help in the decisions that I have made. There are concerns that we all have and prayer is the only way we have in helping and I believe there is power in prayer."
Beginning 7 p.m. there will be a worship service. Residents are invited to bring lawn chairs and meet on the street directly in front of the courthouse for a time of music and corporate prayer. The Cantrells, a local band, will be sharing their songs in worship and Lauren Ring, sixth grade student from Georgetown Elementary, will be singing the National Anthem. Area Boy Scouts will also be part of the service.
One of the highlights of the service will be a chorus of voices reading the entire Bible simultaneously in 15 minutes. There are still some scripture assignments available for those who have not signed up. Contact Linda O'Hara at (937) 379-1980 to receive an assignment or check with the pastor of your church.
"Nothing makes the enemy more upset than to see Christians gathered to pray in total agreement and to see Christians from different denominations in agreement is even more upsetting to him," said Terrie Wells, of the task force. "We need over 300 people from all Christian denominations throughout the county to participate in the Bible reading so that it can be completed in just 15 minutes."
Members of the Brown County Task Force for the National Day of Prayer invite those who are interested in praying for the government, families, the military, schools and educators, business and industry, the media and churches to support this event and bring friends and neighbors.
If the weather doesn't cooperate, the event will be moved into the Gaslight Theater.
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