Approximately 50 people attended Tyrone\’s National Day of Prayer service held last evening at City Hotel Park.
The Rev. Peggy Bonsell extended greetings, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and songs sung by members of the Youth Choir from the Church of the Good Shepherd. Scripture was read by Major Karen Garrett of the Salvation Army.
Rev. Bonsell spoke on the theme, “Why This Day.” The program concluded with the Men of Grace from the Grace Baptist Church singing two selections.
Rev. Bonsell provided The Daily Herald with a history of how the National Day of Prayer came into existence.
Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through America’s history.
It continued when President Lincoln proclaimed a day of “humiliation, fasting and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress signed by President Truman declared an annual National Day of Prayer.
In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.
Last year, all 50 state governors, plus the governors of several U.S. territories, signed similar proclamations.
“The National Day of Prayer has great significance for us as a nation,” said Rev. Bonsell in her speech yesterday.
“It enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions.
“It stands as a call to us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as His people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.”
Rev. Bonsell also spoke to those in attendance about the purpose of holding a National Day of Prayer to explain her theme, “Why This Day.”
“Prayer is a simple, intimate conversation with God. Prayer is simply speaking and listening to the one who loves us,” said Rev. Bonsell. “It doesn’t require higher education or money, just the simplicity of honesty.”
