Photo by Jody Isaackson Unity in community will be promoted in the National Day of Prayer celebrations planned for May 3 and 6 by this ecumenical committee. Pictured are Kandice Vandendriessche, Connie Kockelman, Delores Anderson, Chris Sanow, Kim Korver and Lois Johnson. Not pictured: Sunny Horstmann.

MARSHALL — A committee from several churches in Marshall has been busy planning a National Day of Prayer (NDP) observance for May 6, beginning at 7 p.m. The event is to be at Marshall Evangelical Free Church out by the airport on Lyon County Road 7.

“We’re inviting everyone, including college youth groups,” Committee member Kandice Vandendriessche said.

The NDP national committee selects a theme each year and bases it on a Bible verse. This year’s theme is Unity with Ephesians 4:3 as the Scripture, which says, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

NDP is traditionally observed on the first Thursday of May, and there are plans for a women’s prayer service for 11 a.m. that day, at Living Word Lutheran Church, Marshall. However, both men and women are invited to for the main prayer service May 6.

Any women planning to attend the women’s session on Thursday are asked to RSVP to Vandendriessche at 507-531-0249 by May 2.

“We are going to pray for unity in America, churches, families and communities among ethnic groups in America,” committee member Lois Johnson said. “We’ll also be praying for revival in the United States, the military, medical issues and more.”

Johnson and two other members of the committee have been on planning committees in previous years, as well. Chris Sanow and Delores Anderson have served once in the past, while Johnson has had more experience than that.

Vandendriessche, Connie Kockelman, Kim Korver and Sunny Horstmann said this was their first time on the committee.

“What we’ve done in worship over the last two years has brought out a lot of people who probably wouldn’t have come had it not been held on a Sunday evening,” Johnson said. “It really ministered to the people. This year’s theme of unity really seems to fit what’s happening (nationwide). Every year’s theme is based on the needs and nature of the nation.”

NDP got its start in 1952 when President Harry S. Truman asked for a National Day of Prayer. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proposed a constitutional amendment to designate the first Thursday in May as NDP, committee members said.

“Billy Graham spoke at the capital on National Day of Prayer,” Vandendriessche said.

“Throughout all the state Capitols there will be a National Day of Prayer event,” Johnson said. “It is our hope that every major city or county will also join in prayer.”