RHINELANDER – A public observance of the National Day of Prayer will be held Thursday, May 5 at  noon in front of the Oneida County Courthouse in Rhinelander.  The event will last approximately 30 minutes and will be held rain or shine.

The theme for the 2022 National Day of Prayer is “Exalt the Lord who Established Us.”  It is based on Colossians 2:6-7: And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 

Event organizer Pastor Rod Ankrom stated in a press release that the prayer event is not political in nature.

“In addition to praying for our nation and its leadership, prayer will focus on praying for our community, families and churches. It is estimated that over two million people attend more than 30,000 observances of the National Day of Prayer throughout the United States on an annual basis.”

The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was unanimously amended by both the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on Thursday, May 5, 1988, designating the first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer. Every president since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation. For more information, call 715-362-4792 or go to nationaldayofprayer.org.