Laypeople from several Christian churches in the Waterloo area will be leading small groups in prayer for the United States on May 6, which is the National Day of Prayer. Anyone interested is welcome to join in, either from their own homes or at the Waterloo United Methodist Church, located at 21 E . Williams St. in Waterloo.
The National Day of Prayer was established in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. It takes place each year on the first Thursday of May, according to Judy Mayne, who has been coordinating Waterloo’s observance of the day since 2013.
“As Christians, it’s part of our responsibility. There’s a Scripture verse saying that we need to be praying for our leaders, so that all goes well within our nations,” Mayne said.
In previous years, Mayne has coordinated National Day of Prayer celebrations — usually led by local clergy — that included gatherings in local parks, color guards, and participation from local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. This year, however, the observance has been scaled back due to social-distancing requirements, she explained. The prayer groups from the Waterloo congregations, including St. Francis and St. Clare Parish, have committed to praying inside the Waterloo United Methodist Church at various times between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and all who participate must wear masks, follow social-distancing guidelines and use hand sanitizer, Mayne said.
