National Day of Prayer begins with annual breakfast

Friday, May 8, 2015
Loretta George/Tribune photo Tim Woodring, involvement pastor at Community Christian Church, speaks during the National Day of Prayer Breakfast Thursday in Fort Scott.

Fort Scottians gathered Thursday morning for a service in commemoration of the National Day of Prayer.

Songs were sung, prayers given and Tim Woodring spoke about God's goodness to him in his diagnosis of a brain tumor last year.

Woodring's health scare began with not knowing familiar things and having headaches, and ended up with surgery on his brain for what doctors said was a tumor, but turned out to be an infection.

Along the way, prayers were given on his behalf around the world, he said.

"I sensed God's presence," during this ordeal, he said.

Woodring said people don't often know what to say and do when someone is given a death sentence like his diagnosis of a fast-growing tumor.

"Sometimes, it's just your presence, even if you don't know what to say," he said.

"If you take away nothing else today, remember this, God is good in all circumstances," he said. "He hears our prayers."

President Barak Obama proclaimed May 7 as a National Day of Prayer, as has every president since President Ronald Reagan signed into law the designation of the first Thursday in May as an annual observance.

"I invite the citizens of our nation to give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I join all people of faith in asking for God's continued guidance, mercy, and protection as we seek a more just world," Obama said, according to the www.whitehouse.gov website.

Pioneer Kiwanis hosted the local National Day of Prayer, held at the Ellis Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel sponsored the meal.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee attendees joined the breakfast. The group meets Thursday mornings at area business or organizations to share information.

This is the 2015 National Prayer for the nation, written by Dr. Jack Graham, according to information from the local event:

"Heavenly Father, We welcome You in the Name that is above every name, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Our hearts cry out to You.

"Knowing You are a prayer-answering, faithful God, the One we trust in times like these, we ask that You renew our spirits, revive our churches and heal our land.

"We repent of our sins and ask for Your grace and power to save us. Hear our cry, oh God, and pour out Your Spirit upon us that we may walk in accordance to Your Word.

"We are desperate for Your tender mercies. We are broken and humbled before You.

"Forgive us and in the power of Your great love, lift us up to live in Your righteousness.

"We pray for our beloved nation. May we repent and return to You and be a light to the nations. We pray for our leaders and ask that You give them wisdom and faith to follow you.

"Preserve and protect us, for You are our refuge and only hope.

"Deliver us from all fears except to fear You, and may we courageously stand in the truth that sets us free.

"We pray with expectant faith and grateful hearts. In Jesus' name, our Savior. Amen"