2016 National Day Of Prayer
From beginning to end, the May 5 observance of the 65th National Day of Prayer provided a collective witness of the Evansville area’s unity … and diversity.
After students from Mater Dei High School opened the event with the National Anthem, Bishop Charles C. Thompson welcomed everyone and introduced Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, who officially proclaimed May 5, 2016, as National Day of Prayer in the City of Evansville.
“It is fitting that on this 65th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer we focus on the need for healing and reconciliation within our community and our nation,” the proclamation reads, in part. What followed was a 40-minute testimony to the desire for that reconciliation – and continued strengthening of unity – in the Evansville area.
For the first time at this event, the Latino American Society of Evansville invited local residents who are natives of Central and South America to attend and hold the flags of their home countries. Against the colorful backdrop – those flags waving proudly with the American and POW/MIA flags at Four Freedoms Monument – Evansville Fire Department chaplains and representatives of nine faith traditions prayed.
When he stepped to the microphone to offer the closing prayer, Bishop Charles C. Thompson acknowledged the common themes of those who preceded him – prayers for refugees, the homeless, the sick and oppressed; and prayers for tolerance, peace, an end to hatred and discrimination.
“I don’t normally stray from the script,” he said, “but today, I am. I would like our presenters to step forward, and let us all join hands in a moment of silent prayer for our country and our world.”
That moving, emotional moment is shown in the lead photo with this report.
For the past couple of years, representatives of the Evansville Fire Department and Police Department have immediately followed Mayor Winnecke to offer prayer for all men and women in uniform, and all first responders. This year, however, the series of prayers began with a moment of silence in memory of Rev. F.P. Miller, longtime pastor of First Ebenezer Baptist Church in Evansville, who lost a brief-but-courageous fight against cancer last December.
Pastor Miller’s daughter, Rev. Veltri Taylor, has succeeded him at First Ebenezer Baptist. She led the crowd in a moment of silence for her father, who had participated in the National Day of Prayer observance for more than 20 years.
“I wonder when we pray,” Rev. Taylor said after the tribute to her late father, “… do we pray for selfish goals or for the common good of all people to be united one day in the glory of God?” She and those who followed her focused emphatically on the common good. They prayed for an end to violence, hatred and discrimination; for the sick, weak and oppressed; for refugees.
Every presenter also noted the need for reconciliation and unity.
“There’s so much division and polarization – economically, politically, sometimes even religiously,” Bishop Thompson said after the observance. “It’s important to remember that despite whatever differences we might have … that we may not see eye to eye on different things or may not agree on things … we’re still part of the one family of God. We’re all created in the image of God – each and every human being.”
That theme echoed across prayers offered by Pastor Taylor; Evansville Fire Department Chaplain Tony Payne, who was joined by Chaplain Ken Olson; Imam Omar Atia of the Evansville Islamic Society; Rev. Dr. Todd A. Gile of Evansville Trinity United Methodist Church; Steven Jed Stanfill of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; retired Rev. Phil Hoy of the United Church of Christ; Tom Moor of the Unitarian Univeralist Church; Mary Lee McManus of Evansville, who practices the Buddhist tradition; and Abraham Brown of Holy Name Church in Henderson, Ky., who represented the Latino community, and prayed in English and Spanish.
Before beginning his prayer, Fire Department Chaplain Payne recognized retired U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. and Vietnam Veteran Don Counts of Evansville, who served 24 years.
Counts and many others in attendance – including all the presenters – signed the formal proclamation from Mayor Winnecke immediately following the closing song by Mater Dei High School students.
