Charleston,S.C.-- MayorJohn Tecklenburg has announced that the National Day of Prayer CharlestonObservance will take place at Washington Square Park, located next to City Hallat 80 Broad Street, on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. The event is opento the public.

This annual eventis part of a nationwide observance in accordance witha 1952 joint resolution by Congress signed into law by President Harry S.Truman, and a 1988 amended law signed by President Ronald Reagan designatingthe first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer.

“Thisevent marks Charleston’s second annual National Day of Prayer observance as ournation and city unite in a day of national prayer and fellowship,” said MayorTecklenburg.

The thirty-minuteprogram will begin with Mayor Tecklenburg's official "Call toObservance," followed by operatic soprano Saundra DeAthos of CharlestonOpera Theater performing the time-honored anthem “AmazingGrace.”

Area clergy willthen offer prayers on selected subjects, in the following order: “Prayer for Faith & Fellowship” by The Reverend EricS.C. Manning of Mother Emanuel AME Church; “Prayer for Economic Prosperity” byThe Reverend John Pharis of City Church of Charleston; “Prayer  for HumanRights and Social Justice” by The Reverend Dr. Marshall Blalock of FirstBaptist Church of Charleston; “Prayer for Children, Youth and Families” by TheReverend Eleanora Ellington of Wesley United Methodist Church; and “Prayer forPublic Safety” by The Rabbi Yossi Refson of the Center for Jewish Life – Chabadof Charleston.

Inthe event of inclement weather, the program will be held in the Council Chamberinside City Hall.

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