Wayne Baer of Parkersburg, left, prays with Ted and Barbie Jones, also of Parkersburg, during the National Day of Prayer at Bicentennial Park across from the Wood County Courthouse.
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Communities from around the valley gathered with countless more from around the nation to celebrate the National Day of Prayer Thursday.
Mid-Ohio Valley residents gathered in Parkersburg, Williamstown and Marietta.
Despite cloudy skies with a threat of rain that gave way to sunshine, a group of about 25 gathered at Bicentennial Park on Market Street across from the Wood County Courthouse for one of two observances in Parkersburg.
Tim Baer, one of the organizers of the noontime observance at the park, said the prayer at the park has been going on for at least 25 years.
“I remember when I was still in high school we would meet at this same place,” he said. “I remember Mayor Jimmy Colombo organized a lot of these and since Mayor Newell has been in office he has read a proclamation.”
Baer said the organizers represented a number of churches or faith-based organizations.
“Most of those who met today meet with Mayor Newell for prayer,” he said. “A lot of us came together; there are a number of churches here.”
“Participating in the National Day of Prayer gives us the opportunity to join our voices together as one,” said the Rev. Lauren Godwin with the Sandhill United Methodist Church in Williamstown.
Williamstown has held its event at noon on the steps of the city building at W. Fifth Street for more than a decade. Pastors from the Williamstown Ministerial Alliance have organized and participated in the program with their own prayers for the community, city, nation and world…