Oxford commemorates National Day of Prayer

The national holiday proves to be important in Oxford

One of the two crosses placed on the table at the courthouse.

May 5, 2011 represents the National Day of Prayer. A day devoted to the sacred act of faith, and a relationship with God.

As you enter the Oxford Courthouse at noon on May 4, the building is slightly different.

Rounding the corner a room is set for those to pray, just behind the judges stand lies two paintings of a cross with a bible placed in between.

Throughout the next day, hundreds of people will find their way into this courtroom and will bow their heads in prayer.

"Prayer is vital," Ole Miss junior, John Bobo said. "Coming together as a nation on this day just makes it that much stronger."

The day is celebrated nationally, but Oxford started it's day 12 hours early. 

According to Janet Davis, the chairwoman for Oxford’s National Day of Prayer, a “Watch around the Clock” will begin at noon on Wednesday. 

The 24 hour prayer will end at 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Oxford, who will be hosting a luncheon for all who participated. 

Throughout the 24 hours, the courtroom in the center of Oxford will be open to those that would like to come and pray. Folders with city officials and officers names will be provided in order for participants to pray for authority figures by name.

The courthouse will not be without a guest prayer during the 24 hour prayer vigil. Several churches became involved, each church and ministry signing up for a certain time slot.

Young Life, a Christian ministry, chose to have their time slot be at midnight.

“We thought it would be special,” area director, Allen Hampton said.

The group filed into the courthouse and prayed together for over an hour, as did many of the other groups seen throughout the day and night.

Although the day is seen by some as slightly controversial, it has a strong existence in Oxford.  

This year is the sixtieth annual observance of the National Day of Prayer, which was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1952, and later set as May 5 by President Ronald Reagan.