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Americans of all faiths will gather Thursday to participate in the annual National Day of Prayer.
Held on the first Thursday of May, the event has been set aside as a day to ask for God's help for our communities, our states and our nation.
The annual commemoration has been held nationally since 1952, with local events in our area being held for many decades.
Local observances are set for several locations. They will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Wintersville, outside of the village's Municipal Building at 200 Grove St. That's where village officials will gather with staff members and students from the Jefferson County Christian School to join in prayer with members of the community, government officials and first responders.
Steubenville's event will be held at noon near the fountain at Historic Fort Steuben, at the corner of Third and Market streets. In Weirton, the observance will be held at noon on the steps of the Weirton Municipal Building, located at 200 Municipal Plaza. In Wellsburg, the town's Kiwanis Club will team with local clergy and Mayor Dan Dudley for a prayer service at noon on the Town Square. And, in Toronto, Crossroads North River Church, Riverview United Methodist Church and Toronto First Methodist Church are joining for a prayer walk at 6 p.m., which will be followed by a service at 6:30 p.m. Both events will be held in the Gazebo Commons area at North Third and Market streets.
In addition to local events, the national observance, which is marking its 73rd anniversary, will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday. That event will air nationally on television, radio, websites, social media platforms and streaming services.
Visit nationaldayofprayer.org for information.
This year's theme is "Lift Up the Word -- Light Up the World," which is based on 2 Samuel 22:29-31, which reads "For you are my lamp, oh Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God -- his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him."
It's an appropriate theme, one that offers a reminder that prayer needs to be an integral part of the solution to our problems.
The right to practice our faith is one of the greatest freedoms we enjoy as Americans. The National Day of Prayer continues to offer a great opportunity to use that freedom as a way to bring about positive change.