LOCAL CHURCHES TO MARK DAY OF PRAYER

National Day of Prayer events in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Mo., have grown to include many people and churches in the community but without losing the original emphasis.

Prayer isn't just about one service or one day but a discipline, says Sherri Mehner, who along with her husband, Jack, organizes the community events.

The National Day of Prayer has turned into a week's worth of activity for the region, and includes at least 30 churches or Christian groups. Activities will kick off Monday with a special prayer service and continue through Thursday.

Limited tickets for the annual Mayors' Prayer Breakfast are still available. Cost is $6 per person or $48 per table of eight. The breakfast will be at 6:30 a.m. May 3 at the Osage Community Centre.

For ticket information, call the information line at 339-1297.

Theme for the event will be "One Nation Under God." Guest speaker will be LeRoy Sullivan, a pastor from Kansas City, Kan.

Sullivan has been instrumental in serving as a community minister in Kansas and has organized citywide prayer services. He also works in community ministries like developing a food pantry, emergency assistance program and mentoring program for married couples through his church, Bread of Life Outreach Ministries.

At noon Thursday, people are asked to gather at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson, Mo., for a prayer and worship service. At 12:30 p.m. during that service, and all around the country, a special prayer will be read. The prayer was written by the Rev. Billy Graham specifically for the 50th anniversary observance of the National Day of Prayer.

In case of rain, the service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, which is near the courthouse square.

President Harry S. Truman established the National Day of Prayer for America, and President Ronald Reagan declared it to be observed on the first Thursday in May.

Nightly prayer services will be at 7 p.m. Monday at First Assembly of God Church Monday, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Evangelical United Church of Christ, at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the old Cape Central gym for a youth rally, and at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

ON THE NET

For more information on the National Day of Prayer, visit this Internet site: www.nationaldayofprayer.org