National Day of Prayer observed in Tonganoxie
The National Day of Prayer luncheon Thursday at Tonganoxie United Methodist Church took place during the lunch hour, but Rev. Francis Stockton told those in attendance they were welcome all day.
“If you want to pray the rest of the afternoon, this building’s here for you,” Stockton said during closing remarks of the event. “Heck, I think there’s dessert left. Never stop praying.”
The Tonganoxie Ministerial Alliance sponsored the event, which included a meal for those in attendance. Free-will donations were accepted for the meal.
Rev. Ron Swaim, minister at Cornerstone Family Worship in Tonganoxie, gave a short welcome and then asked people at each table to take 15 minutes to go around their tables and offer up prayers.
The day finished with a recitation of “The Lord’s Prayer.”
National Day of Prayer has been observed annually since 1952 through a joint resolution by Congress that President Harry Truman signed. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Ronald Reagan to permanently set the date as the first Thursday in May each year. An annual day of prayer dates back to 1775, according to the National Day of Prayer website, nationaldayofprayer.org.