Two hundred thirty five years have passed since the governing body of the United States first declared that there should be a National Day of Prayer.

No matter how different today’s world is from that of 1775, this call to prayer remains the same. On Thursday, the Miss-Lou community will answer that ancient call with a celebration in Memorial Park.

Beginning at 11 a.m., churches and ministries from the Natchez area will lead times of worship and prayer in Memorial Park, adjacent to St. Mary’s Basilica.

The event will last until 6 p.m. Organized by the Ministerial Alliance, the National Day of Prayer provides a time and space for members of the community to gather and to offer prayers for our nation and world. Everyone is encouraged to attend. You may come at any time that fits your schedule, and you may leave whenever you need to do so.

A tent will be available in case of rain.

The National Day of Prayer became an annual event in 1952, when President Harry Truman signed into law an annual observance of prayer.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan designated the first Thursday in May as the time of celebration.

Across the nation, communities like ours will gather in various places, in diverse places, to set aside our differences and unite around one purpose: to make our requests known to God. Let us move beyond our individual church’s walls and make plans to pray together as a community on May 6.

Rev. Darian Duckworth is the president of the Natchez Area Ministerial Alliance and the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church.