PETERSBURG – A small group of faithful participated in a local version of the annual National Day of Prayer outside the Upper Township Municipal Building on May 1.
The governing body had passed a resolution designating the first Thursday in May as “A Day of Prayer in Upper Township.” According to the resolution, national days of prayer can be traced back to the First Continental Congress in 1775.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation setting aside the first Thursday in May each year as the National Day of Prayer. The measure was passed unanimously by both houses of Congress.
Committeeman Sam Palombo, who represented the Township Committee at the event, read the resolution, which states that the Supreme Court upheld the right of legislatures, state and federal, to open their sessions with prayer. Congress opens each day’s session with prayer.
The resolution continues by saying the National Day of Prayer “is an opportunity for Americans of all faiths to join in united prayer to acknowledge our dependence on God,” to give thanks, pray for peace, request healing and to guide the nation’s leaders and bring wholeness to the nation and its citizens.
The Rev. Piotr Szamacki of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish opened by asking for prayers for government leaders, saying, “May their decisions reflect justice and truth.” He prayed for the strengthening of families and asked for homes to be “places of prayer, peace and (God’s) presence.” He also prayed for education, asking that the truth be taught, prayed for the military and first responders, and for the media saying, “Let your words be salt and light.”
Pastor Eber Stabenow Marski of the Parkway South SDA Church began with a reminder of how the pandemic was used to “push people away from each other,” and he prayed that people would come to care for others.
“Help us to be there for people in need,” he said.
Marski likewise prayed for the people of Upper Township and their leaders at all levels, that they would seek to serve all people, and that people would come to serve God and the lost.
Pastor Walter Nistorenko from Impact Church paraphrased Psalm 33:12, saying, “When the Lord is honored the nation will be blessed.” He said the Founding Fathers recognized God as the Supreme Being, and thanked God that His word remains consistent.
He went on to pray for the new generation of young people, that they would likewise recognize God.
Jon Buthy, who leads the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Cape May County, continued the theme of reaching young people and their leaders with faith.
Former Mayor Jay Newman, a lifelong Upper Township resident, talked of “separation of church and state.” He said the First Amendment states that the government shall not establish a religion, but it also says in the same phrase that the free exercise of religion shall not be abridged. He said both God and the government guarantee those rights.
“As long as I am able, I will champion the notion that God is in charge,” Newman said.
Other speakers included Cheryle Eisele and Kathy Chance from Wesley United Methodist Church, Pastor Melissa Doyle-Waid from Seaville United Methodist Church and Pastor Keith Roller from Tuckahoe United Methodist Church.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
