St. Matthews By-The-Sea to host National Day of Prayer event May 1

St. Mathews By-The-Sea UMC will join more than 40,000 churches, town halls, community centers and prayer groups throughout the nation in hosting services for the National Day of Prayer at a special event from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 1. Delaware Rep. Ron Gray, R-Selbyville, will speak. The church is located at 1000 Coastal Highway and Dagsboro Street in Fenwick Island.

Pastor Bruce Miller said, “This is a community-wide effort to pray for our nation. Everyone of any faith or religion or who just believes in the need for prayer for our country is welcome and encouraged to join with us. This day is even more special for me because it was at a National Day of Prayer service in Lewes in 1993 that I felt the calling of the Lord to enter the ministry.”

Gray said, "I am really pleased to be able to join the Fenwick Island community to pray and speak at their National Day of Prayer observance. Last year I was privileged to join the South Bethany Beach community as they celebrated at their National Day of Prayer event. I am really humbled to be a part of this nationwide effort to pray for our country, its people and its leaders. I hope that everyone has the opportunity to join us or some other group during this historic event."

The First Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer in 1775 as the U.S. struggled for freedom from England. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln called for such a day, and in 1952, Congress established NDP as an annual event by joint resolution signed into law by President Harry Truman. In 1988, President Ronald Regan signed into law an amendment designating the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer.