A small group of Auburn residents joined members of the Nemaha County Ministerial Association Thursday noon, May 6, on the east side of the Nemaha County Courthouse grounds to participate in a National Day of Prayer service.

2010 was the 59th observance of National Day of Prayer.
Pastor Michael Schmidt of the Nemaha Christian Church and Stella Community Church asked all to pray for our local governmental officials and asked that God give them vision for our community. Schmidt, in reading from Romans, said that we are given the word of God in numerous instances. He also asked everyone to pray for students at all levels — from elementary, to high school and college — to give them the hope for a better tomorrow and that they will bring that into fruition.
Pastor Ruth Henderson of the Brownville, Julian and Nemaha United Methodist churches asked everyone to pray for everyone in all of our local communities. She asked all to think of individuals who have needs in our own communities as well as around the world.
Pastor John Henderson of the Burchard United Methodist Church asked everyone to pray for our state officials. He urged state officials to work together for Nebraskans to bring them through the current tough times. Henderson said that officials need to show leadership and restraint of spending while continuing to serve Nebraskans.
Father Greg Pawloski of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Auburn and St. Clara Catholic Church, Peru, asked for prayers for the sick and those in need of healing, especially individuals suffering from natural disasters and terminal illnesses. Pawloski also asked prayers for individuals caring for the sick and those in need of healing.
Pastor Eli Davidson, youth minister at Auburn Christian Church, asked for prayers for our federal officials and the president. He asked that federal officials lead Americans through leadership and by their examples.
The Rev. Fred Richert of First United Methodist Church, Auburn, asked for prayers for peace. He said that we need to give thanks for those who have fought for what was right.
Others asked all to thank God for blessings which Americans have that a lot of people do not have and to return the United States to the foundation that it was built on; urged God to hear our prayers and renew the United States; help Americans to keep the freedoms to worship God as Americans chose and asked God to be with those who are serving the United States in places of danger around the world and laying their lives on the line so Americans may enjoy the freedoms they have. All sang “God Bless America.”
The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer in 1775. Abraham Lincoln called for such a day in 1863. Congress established National Day of Prayer as an annual event by a joint resolution in 1952, signed into law by President Truman. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, designating National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.