Two events are planned in Aiken for the National Day of Prayer on Thursday.
Participants will meet from noon to 1 p.m. in front of the City of Aiken Administration and Finance Building at 135 Laurens St. S.W. and from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center at 1700 Whiskey Road.
The National Day of Prayer will allow millions of Americans to unite at more than 42,000 locations from coast to coast to pray.
This year's theme is "Lord, Hear Our Cry." The theme is based on a Bible verse from I Kings 8:28: "Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day."
The National Day of Prayer predates the founding of the United States.
In 1775, the Continental Congress issued a proclamation setting aside a day of prayer.
In 1952, Congress established an annual day of prayer; and in 1988, that law was amended, designating the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.
For more information, visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org.
An Aiken native, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter. He joined the Aiken Standard in September 2014.