Area Lutheran Church to Be National Day of Prayer Site

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. 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 our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of 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.

One area church which participates in this annual observance is St. John Lutheran Church located at 7214 South Cass Avenue in Darien, Illinois. It is a registered site for National Day of Prayer activities which will occur this year on Thursday, May 7 with the theme “Lord, Hear Our Cry.” The church will host a Prayer Vigil from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It will be open to those in the community who wish to come in and pray. Visitors can also write their prayer requests and place them on a cross so others will pray for them. In addition to personal petitions, the National Day of Prayer encourages citizens to lift up our government, military, media, businesses, educational institutions, churches, and family units in pray.

When the Prayer Vigil concludes, a National Day of Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Its theme will be “God-Given Hats” based on 1 Timothy 2:1-4. This 2015 LWML Prayer Service is designed to give worshippers the opportunity to lift up before God their confessions, their supplications and petitions, and their praises as such prayers relate to their God-given vocations in the family, the workplace, the community, the country, and the church. A reception of light refreshments will follow the service.

If you would like more information about this event, e-mail info@sjlcdarien.org, or call 630-969-7987.