People across Northeast Georgia gathered on Thursday, May 1, to observe the 74th annual National Day of Prayer. The event, held nationwide, saw participants congregating in churches, town squares, and other locations to pray for their communities, leaders, and the country.
In Cornelia, a small group gathered at the Grant Reeves VFW Post 7720, where the morning observance commenced with a 21-gun salute, the Pledge of Allegiance, and music by the Grant Reeves Singers. Post Chaplain Dana McCloud led the program and prayer.
A larger crowd gathered in Clarkesville’s downtown square despite the mist, praying for various sectors of society, including government, military, media, business, education, churches, and families.
Pastors from local churches led the attendees in directed prayer. Participants called for wise, honest public decision-making, thanked military service members, and wished them safety and strength.
Similar observances took place throughout Habersham County. In Cleveland, the National Day of Prayer event, originally planned for Freedom Park, was moved indoors to the Cleveland Methodist Church due to rain. Ministers from different churches across the county led the service, focusing on the themes of hope and renewal.
Shane Bowers, Worship Pastor at The Bridge Church in Cleveland, provided music for the gathering in White County. Pastor Jeff Groves of the same church expressed hope that the county’s NDP observance would showcase the unity of the local churches.
“I hope they can see the churches in White County are unified; that we are about cooperation over competition,” he stated. “And it’s good to see us come together as a community where we can pray for all these different needs, and I loved the part where we did pray for each other.”
The National Day of Prayer is held annually on the first Thursday in May.
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Dean Dyer of WRWH and Debbie Purcell contributed to this article
