STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Several Rhinelander religious leaders and a couple dozen community members gathered at the Oneida County Courthouse Wednesday at noon to observe the 67^th annual National Day of Prayer.

The theme for the event was “Pray for America: UNITY.”

“Based on Ephesians 4:3, we are encouraged to ‘make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,’” wrote Pastor Rod Ankram in a press release.

Though the prayers centered on the Nations government and leaders, it was designed to be apolitical. Those in attendance read together a prayer written by Dr. Ronnie Floyd of the National Day of Prayer task force.

“We turn away from our disrespect and lack of dignity toward each other, and we turn away from our continual devaluation of all human life from the womb until death in this world,” the prayer read in part, also asking for “God’s power to unify families, workplaces, communities and cities in America.”

Other prayers focused on education, the military, business community, families and the church.