CITY JOINS NATION IN ANNUAL DAY OF PRAYER

With the American flag whipping in the wind and the sound of church bells tolling in the background, more than 100 people gathered on the steps of Cape Girardeau City Hall to pray for the nation.

The communitywide noon prayer service was just one of several National Day of Prayer observances in Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri Thursday.

This year many of the prayers weren't just for national or state leaders but for area schools, administrators, teachers and students.

"People's hearts are stirred to pray for the children," said Sherri Mehner, who has coordinated the city's National Day of Prayer observances for the past three years.

Each person who attended the prayer service received a white ribbon to wear in remembrance of school shooting victims.

In his prayer for businesses, schools and the medical community, the Rev. David Allen said: "As long as people go to a hospital with a sense of hope to be healed, there will be prayers in our hospitals. As long as there are tests in our schools there will be prayers in school. From preschool to post-graduate, even as rivers of blood are running in our classrooms, we ask for healing for our land."

Prayers for students weren't the only ones offered by area church and civic leaders.

City attorney Eric Cunningham reminded the crowd that prayer is not a spectator sport. A day of prayer will touch God, but living a life of prayerfulness can change hearts, he said.

The National Day of Prayer is simply one day set aside to pray for the nation. For the last 10 years it has been observed on the first Thursday of May.

Donna Price was among the crowd gathered at City Hall. She said that prayer is important, especially when it involves the freedom to pray in public locations.

"Any time we can gather for an opportunity to pray and hold the Lord up and offer praise, it's great."

Price, whose husband, Mike, prayed for the community media during the service, said the day of prayer emphasizes prayers for governmental leaders, which is necessary.

Mehner agreed, "Our leaders need God's help to do their work."

In past observances of the National Day of Prayer, city leaders were matched with a prayer partner who supported and encouraged them throughout the year, Mehner said.

Several of the leaders said they noticed a difference in their lives because of the prayer support. "They told us they had little notes that came at times when they had to make difficult decisions."