The annual National Day of Prayer observance will take place at two separate times in Greenfield on Thursday, May 4. The Greenfield Area Ministerial Association is planning the traditional observance at noon that day at the Greenfield City Building plaza, located on the corner of Jefferson and Washington streets. A second prayer time will occur at various locations around Greenfield at 6:30 p.m. that same day.

The 6:30 p.m. locations include outside the City Building, Freedom Trail Ministry and Retreat Center, South Street in front of the United Methodist Church and Greenfield schools. Details of specific locations as well as the point of contact at each location will be posted on the Greenfield Area Ministerial Association Facebook page. The public is invited to attend any one of the locations or to join in prayer at that time from their neighborhoods or inside their homes.

This year’s theme, Pray Fervently in Righteousness and Avail Much, is based on James 5:16b: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

The first National Day of Prayer was established by the Continental Congress in 1775, and while U.S. presidents followed that initial National Day of Prayer by issuing a proclamation for an annual day of prayer, it wasn’t until 1988 that Congress officially established the National Day of Prayer as occurring on the first Thursday in May.

For further information, contact the Rev. Chris Stokes at 937-763-2790 or [email protected]. Correspondence may also be sent to GAMA, c/o First Baptist Church, 250 Lafayette St., Greenfield, Ohio 45123.

For further National Day of Prayer information, including other events across the nation and during the year, go to www.nationalDayOfPrayer.org or call 1-800-444-8828.

Submitted by Rick Schluep, church partnerships manager, Compassion International/USA.