Prayer day events are planned throughout Oklahoma

Thus far, prayer services are planned at the state Capitol and in Norman, Lawton-Fort Sill, Midwest City, Tulsa, Tecumseh, Cushing, Bartlesville, Mustang, Shawnee, Stratford, Tahlequah, Ada, Anadarko and Kingfisher, to name a few.

Many of the prayer gatherings are planned outside government buildings such as courthouses and city halls, while the state Capitol's observance will be held on the second-floor rotunda.

Other gatherings are scheduled to take place in city parks, churches, fairgrounds and private schools. A prayer event also is planned near the Survivor Tree at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. And the services take the form of breakfast events, luncheons, come-and-go prayer time and flagpole meetings.

The theme for the 61st National Day of Prayer is “One Nation Under God,” based on Psalm 33:12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

One of the most well-attended events, the state Capitol observance will feature state, military and business leaders who will pray for their areas of responsibility. Lloyd Smith, chairman of the National Day of Prayer Oklahoma Task Force, said Gov. Mary Fallin is scheduled to participate in the service as well as Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb and Scott Pruitt, attorney general. Smith said Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, Oklahoma National Guard adjutant general; Tom Hill, Kimray Corp. chairman of the board and founder of Character First; Tony Kennedy, president of Baptist Homes for Children, and the Rev. Mark McAdow, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City, also are expected to participate.