MONROE - During times of economic hardship, social unrest and war or in their daily lives, Americans have often turned to prayer.
"Since the founding of our nation we've had national days of prayer," said Monroe National Day of Prayer Coordinator Candace Curry, a member of the Monroe Bible Church.
The Continental Congress prayed as they were forming the new nation in 1775; George Washington called upon Americans to pray during the Revolution; and Abraham Lincoln asked Americans to pray during the Civil War, she said.
"I think that when we forget to pray we're in big trouble," Curry said.
The National Day of Prayer Breakfast, hosted for the seventh year by the Monroe Bible Church, is from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Peppercorn banquet hall at the Ludlow Mansion, 1421 Mansion Drive.
In 1952, a joint resolution was passed by Congress and signed by President Harry Truman called for a national day of prayer. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan called for the first Thursday in May to be observed as the National Day of Prayer.
Curry said Thursday's event gives people of different faiths a chance to get together to pray for the nation and its leaders.
Curry and others were concerned when Wisconsin District Court Judge Barbara Crabb ruled in April that the event violated the United States Constitution. Curry said she worried that people might not attend the prayer breakfast in Monroe.
She believes there will still be a lot of people who choose to attend the event, which doesn't promote any specific religion.
"We want to include as many people as possible," Curry said.
President Barack Obama signed a proclamation April 30 that designated Thursday as a National Day of Prayer. Every president since Truman has signed a similar proclamation, Curry said.
"On this day, let us give thanks to the many blessing God has bestowed upon our nation," Obama's proclamation said.
Every generation, Curry said, feels they face challenges unseen by generations of the past. Others have faced difficult times and others turned to prayer, Curry said.
"With everything going on in the world, we should be praying," she said.
This year's theme for the national Day of Prayer is "Prayer - For Such a Time as This."
Anyone interested in attending the event can contact the Monroe Bible Church at 325-3966, or e-mail office@monroebiblechurch.org.
While reservations would be appreciated, Curry said people who don't have a reservation are welcome to attend.
"Since the founding of our nation we've had national days of prayer," said Monroe National Day of Prayer Coordinator Candace Curry, a member of the Monroe Bible Church.
The Continental Congress prayed as they were forming the new nation in 1775; George Washington called upon Americans to pray during the Revolution; and Abraham Lincoln asked Americans to pray during the Civil War, she said.
"I think that when we forget to pray we're in big trouble," Curry said.
The National Day of Prayer Breakfast, hosted for the seventh year by the Monroe Bible Church, is from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Peppercorn banquet hall at the Ludlow Mansion, 1421 Mansion Drive.
In 1952, a joint resolution was passed by Congress and signed by President Harry Truman called for a national day of prayer. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan called for the first Thursday in May to be observed as the National Day of Prayer.
Curry said Thursday's event gives people of different faiths a chance to get together to pray for the nation and its leaders.
Curry and others were concerned when Wisconsin District Court Judge Barbara Crabb ruled in April that the event violated the United States Constitution. Curry said she worried that people might not attend the prayer breakfast in Monroe.
She believes there will still be a lot of people who choose to attend the event, which doesn't promote any specific religion.
"We want to include as many people as possible," Curry said.
President Barack Obama signed a proclamation April 30 that designated Thursday as a National Day of Prayer. Every president since Truman has signed a similar proclamation, Curry said.
"On this day, let us give thanks to the many blessing God has bestowed upon our nation," Obama's proclamation said.
Every generation, Curry said, feels they face challenges unseen by generations of the past. Others have faced difficult times and others turned to prayer, Curry said.
"With everything going on in the world, we should be praying," she said.
This year's theme for the national Day of Prayer is "Prayer - For Such a Time as This."
Anyone interested in attending the event can contact the Monroe Bible Church at 325-3966, or e-mail office@monroebiblechurch.org.
While reservations would be appreciated, Curry said people who don't have a reservation are welcome to attend.