Participants in Sweet Home’s annual Day of Prayer observance gather for that purpose at the Sweet Home Police Department Thursday evening, May 1.
The Day of Prayer has a long history in the United States, with days of “public humiliation, fasting and prayer” observed as far back as the Continental Congress in 1775, and later calls for particular national days of prayer by presidents George Washington, John Adams and Abraham Lincoln. The observance gained official status in 1952 when President Harry Truman designated July 4 as the National Day of Prayer. It was later moved to the first Thursday in May by President Ronald Reagan.
Sweet Home has held such annual observances for some 15 years, on the first Thursday in May. Following the typical order, this year participants gathered at 7:30 a.m. at the School District headquarters on Long Street to pray for school staff and teachers, administrators, students and schools in general. A 10 a.m. gathering at the Chamber of Commerce focused on businesses and the success of the community. At noon participants prayed at City Hall for the City Council and mayor, for wisdom and other needs. The gathering at the police station at 5 p.m. (above photo) focused on first responders. At 7 p.m. Hillside Fellowship church hosted a gathering for worship and prayer that covered the topics already addressed, along with families and the military. About a dozen local churches were represented, according to organizers.