National Day of Prayer event set

A National Day of Prayer observance ceremony will be held May 5 at City Hall.

Organizers said ceremonies will begin at noon and end promptly at 1 p.m.

“We’ll be following the same format we have in years past and use the time to pray as opposed to having a lot of speakers,” said Emily Dennis, an event organizer. “This year the program will also feature what’s called the Appeal to Heaven Flag and its story.”

Dennis said that prior to the 13 original colonies declaring independence, George Washington designed the flag to sit atop America’s first fleet of six ships. The flag included the words “Appeal to Heaven,” a popular colonial phrase denoting the need for a final appeal to heaven for justice from tyranny.

Dennis said area pastors and leaders will pray during the ceremony on topics such as personal renewal, the family, the military and military families, government and government leaders, churches and ministries, education, race relations and arts and entertainment.

Among those set to lead in prayer are Missy Blumenthal of Warner Robins First United Methodist Church, Tolan Morgan Sr. of Fellowship Bible Baptist Church, Lionel Brown of the Houston County school system, Andy King of Christ Chapel and Barbara Pfannkuche of Evergreen Family Fellowship.

Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms is also set to take part.

Dennis said the 2016 National Day of Prayer theme is “Wake Up America,” emphasizing the need for individuals to corporately and individually return to God. She said the theme Bible passage for 2016 is Isaiah 58:1, “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.”

Dennis said a prayer for the nation, written by Tony Evans, honorary chairman of the National Day of Prayer, will be read at the Warner Robins gathering as it will at other observances across the U.S. Evans is pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas.

Dennis said the National Day of Prayer observance in past years has filled council chambers at City Hall, so she encourages those attending to be there as early as possible. She said the event is the 25th such NDP observance at City Hall, which is located at 700 Watson Boulevard.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "National Day of Prayer event set."