Activities planned for National Day of Prayer

Organizers for the area's National Day of Prayer events have seen more participation and interest than they hoped for since making some changes to the service.

Ticket sales were good for the Evening with the Mayors service, though not as strong as they are for the traditional Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. About 40 people have committed to the "Pray It Forward" campaign for Thursday, which allows them to pray for schools, local government staff or hospitals on their own schedule.

"We're really seeing a grassroots prayer initiative and people are really turning to the National Day of Prayer," said organizer Sherri Mehner. "Maybe it's a little bit because of the situation of 9-11 but people are realizing the need for prayer for the nation."

National Day of Prayer events start today at 6:45 p.m. at the Osage Community Centre with an Evening with the Mayors.

Also, a youth service will be held at 7 p.m. at Freedom Rock.

"It should be a full crowd and a great service," said Mehner.

Speaker Jennifer Kennedy Dean of Blue Springs, Mo., will talk about "living a praying life" at the Evening with the Mayors event. The worship team from La Croix United Methodist Church will lead music.

Since there won't be a rush to get people to work by 8 a.m., the service should "be a little richer and have more content," Mehner said.

Until this year, events for National Day of Prayer began with a Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, but the change to an evening service opens the event to more people. "I know there are some people who are able to come that could not come before because they couldn't make the breakfast," she said. "We are thankful for that."

For people without tickets to the evening service, there will be a noon event Thursday at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. In case of rain, the event will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mo.

National Day of Prayer is observed on the first Thursday in May each year.

President George W. Bush, in signing a proclamation for the observance, said that since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks millions of people have sought prayer. "They have prayed for comfort in a time of grief, for understanding in a time of anger and for protection in a time of uncertainty. ... I ask Americans to pray for God's protection, to express gratitude for our blessings and to seek moral and spiritual renewal."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126