National Day of Prayer observed in Stillwater
May 5—Stillwater Church of Christ hosted the 72nd annual observance of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday.
Seven people representing various organizations and churches prayed for seven major areas — the government, military, family, education, business, arts and media and the church.
"Our church, like all churches, wants to pray for our nation," said Jimie-Wray Mead, pastor at Stillwater Church of Christ. "We want to pray for all of those areas of life that really define who we are."
Mead said every church in Stillwater was asked to have a part in the observance, and many churches were represented. He assisted as coordinating pastor for the Stillwater National Day of Prayer Committee that met on a monthly basis to plan the day's events.
The church held the ceremony in the parking lot in years past, but this year it met inside the church building. The Stillwater Church of Christ was a central location for all involved.
"It has been taking place for Payne County and Stillwater for as long as we can remember," Mead said. "It's a privilege that we can all come together in Stillwater, Payne County and across our nation to be all praying the very same thing today."
The 2023 theme for the observance was "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much," based on a passage in James 5:16.
Steve Sanders, Associate Professor of Voice at Oklahoma State University, provided music at the ceremony with vocals and guitar.
Trail Life Troop presented the colors and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Selena McCroskey from Dimensions Center performed a presentation on the shofar, a ram's horn trumpet used by ancient Jews in religious ceremonies.
McCroskey gave the history and background of the shofar blasts, as well as offering examples — which included a series of short blasts as a call to action and one long blast to establish the presence and purpose of God.
In the past, Mead said the committee invited notable guests such as Wes Watkins and Sen. James Lankford, R-OK, to pray at the ceremony.
Mead noted that the observance has a long and storied history.
President Harry S. Truman first proclaimed a National Day of Prayer on July 4, 1952. Every year since that date, Americans have observed the day in their own way.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law that moved the National Day of Prayer to the first Thursday in May.
Other notable dates include July 20, 1775, when The Continental Congress issued a proclamation recommending "a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer" be observed. In March 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed a Congressional resolution during the Civil War, which called for April 30, 1863, as a day of fasting and prayer.
"It's very moving, and we believe in the power of prayer," Mead said. "We believe if we unite in prayer, that God will heal our land."
