WILBUR AND RETA CARTER, center, who have been married for 57 years, opened the local National Day of Prayer gathering with a prayer. At left is Billy Reynolds, who led the singing of the national anthem with the Compass Point Academy students; the Rev. Brenda Cross of Gospel Light Fellowship, local NDP coordinator; and pianist Gayla Maguire, principal and director of Compass Point Daycare.
A DRIZZLING RAIN wasn’t enough to dampen the spirits of the roughly 60 people who attended the 63rd annual National Day of Prayer gathering on Thursday. The annual gathering, held the first Thursday in May, is traditionally on the Brunswick mall. In case of inclement weather, the event moves to the nearby Elks Lodge, as it did this year.
Thursday marked the 63rd annual National Day of Prayer, and in Brunswick organizers were thankful for the roughly 60 people who took time to gather at the Elks Lodge on Park Row in order to pray for the nation.
Thousands of similar events were planned around the nation and in 10 countries Thursday.
The Rev. Brenda Cross, co-pastor of Gospel Light Fellowship in West Bath and co-director of the local National Day of Prayer committee, welcomed the crowd with her jovial singing while she shared her unabashed love for Jesus Christ.
The roughly one-hour service included nearly 20 special speakers and prayers in addition to a contingent of children from Compass Point Academy who sang the national anthem.
As members of the audience uttered “Amens” and “Hallaleujahs” amongst the prayers, the focus turned fully upon lifting up the nation and its leaders, from the local level through Augusta and onto the White House.
Seven areas were targeted for prayer: families, education, churches, businesses, media, military and government.
The Rev. Don Maguire offered prayer for the state Senate and House of Representatives, so that “they would minister according to (God’s) word and cause righteousness.”
Since this year marks the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, Rebecca Giarratano read President Lincoln’s famous address.
dmadore@timesrecord.com
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