By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Community leaders from the River Parishes will engage in festivities Thursday for the National Day of Prayer.

In St. John the Baptist Parish, area pastors and community groups will gather at New Wine Christian Fellowship, 1929 Airline Highway, for an hour of prayer and reflection starting at noon Thursday.

“It will simply be a moment of prayer for our community, our government leadership and our people,” said New Wine Pastor Neil Bernard. “We invite all of our community members and elected officials to join us.”

In St. James Parish, members of Victory Assembly of God Church in Vacherie are sponsoring a prayer event at The Vacherie Community Center on River Road starting at 11:30 a.m. Victory Assembly Pastor Lamar Youngblood will lead the hour-long event.

In St. Charles Parish, residents are invited to gather on the lawn of the St. Charles Parish Courthouse, 15045 River Road, Hahnville, for the parish’s annual National Day of Prayer Celebration starting at 11:45 a.m. Parish leaders will join area pastors for a short ceremony to pray for local, state and national leaders. Seating and shelter will be provided, but anyone coming out to the event is invited to bring a comfortable lawn chair.

Celebrating its 59th year, the National Day of Prayer was started by President Harry Truman as a day when people are asked to turn to God in Prayer and meditation. The event is usually celebrated on the first Thursday in May.