National Day of Prayer service returns to Capitol

The state Capitol will be the site of a National Day of Prayer service once again.

The service is set for 11:55 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday on the second floor rotunda, with music by Voices, directed by Mark Taylor, and prayer led by community and state leaders.

The Capitol service had been held at First Church in downtown Oklahoma City for the last several years because of construction at the Capitol building.

Individuals scheduled to lead prayers include Gov. Mary Fallin, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, Oklahoma County District Judge Bill Graves, Chickasaw Nation tribal legislator Lisa Billy, KOCO-TV broadcast journalist Abigail Ogle, Salvation Army Divisional commanders Lewis and Jacqulyn Reckline, retired school principal Lee Roland and the Rev. Lawrence Neisent, pastor of Destiny Christian Center.

Voices will perform special music at 11:30 a.m. as a prelude to the service. The service will be led by Mike Jestes, Oklahoma National Day of Prayer task force chairman.

The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

This year’s observance at the Capitol is among several planned across the metro area and state. This year’s theme is “Pray for America — Unity,” based on Ephesians 4:3, which says “Making every effort keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

[PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES] In this 2010 photo, a group of men from Gallian Masonry invited other men to join in a circle of prayer before the start of official National Day of Prayer ceremony at the state Capitol.

ARCHIVES PHOTO] [OKLAHOMAN Jerry Padberg, of Oklahoma City, bows her head in prayer during the 2011 National Day of Prayer service at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.