National Day of Prayer on May 1

Darrell Feemster, pastor of New Covenant Church, will be guest speaker for the countywide observance of the National Day of Prayer May 1.

The interdenominational event will be from 7-8 a.m. at First United Methodist Church's fellowship hall. Breakfast will be provided, and a love offering will be accepted for the Lampasas County Ministerial Alliance, sponsor of the event.

The public is urged to attend.

Thousands of similar prayer events are planned across the United States on the same day -- in recognition of the 57th annual National Day of Prayer.

In churches, parks and on courthouse steps, citizens will pray for governmental leaders, media, military, schools, churches, businesses and families.

New events are being added almost daily and can be found at www.nationaldayofprayer.org. A few include:

• Chapel Hill, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina, which is still reeling from the recent murder of its studentbody president, will host a student-led community event May 1.

• Shanksville, Pa. -- A firsttime event will be at the 9/11 crash site of United Flight 93.

• Prayer flight -- private pilots from around the country are banding together to fly over and pray for all 50 state capitals.

This year's theme, "Prayer! America's Strength and Shield," is based on Psalm 28:7: "The

Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped."

Said a spokesman for the national prayer observance: "The Lord hears and responds to His children's cry for help. He is their strength, refuge and courage in personal and national times of suffering, despair and loss."

Noted Shirley Dobson, National Day of Prayer Task Force chairman: "This is a critical time to be in prayer for our country. The biblical principles upon which America was founded are under attack in every segment of society. We pray God will raise righteous leaders for our country."

Ravi Zacharias is the 2008 honorary chairman. On May 1, he will address the national observance at the Cannon House Office Building and the Pentagon celebration, both in Washington, D.C. Zacharias is an acclaimed Christian scholar, apologist, author and speaker.

He has authored a book, "Is There Not a Cause?" -- in honor of the National Day of Prayer -- which links the story of Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem to the task Christ has given believers today to reach the lost.

In recognition that prayer has been and continues to be an integral part of U.S. history, Congress established the National Day of Prayer in 1952.

The observance is held on the first Thursday each May, when Americans are urged to exercise their religious freedom by gathering publicly to worship and pray for the nation.