Thursday’s National Day of Prayer event in Putnam County will look different this year because of COVID-19 recommendations.
“We’re trying to follow all the CDC and Presidential guidelines,” County Coordinator Marcia Mullins said. “We normally have a public service on the south lawn of the courthouse, but this year, we’ll live stream.”
The Day Of Prayer will move from the Putnam County Courthouse to an online meeting. Putnam County’s National Day of Prayer event will start at 11:50 a.m. on the National Day of Prayer Cookeville Chapter Facebook page. Moving the event from the courthouse, Mullins said, was a difficult decision, but it is the right one.
“It was rough, but we decided to follow the guidelines and keep everyone safe,” Mullins said. “That’s when we decided to live stream it.”
The National Day of Prayer has been recognized every year since 1952, when President Harry Truman signed it into law. President Ronald Reagan later moved it to the first Thursday in May. Mullins said there are over 60,000 National Day of Prayer events across the United States.
“I think this may be the most important National Day of Prayers time that we’ve ever had,” Mullins said. “We want to honor the tornado victims and the first responders. This county has done so well amid such a challenge.”
A special national service will also be held online Thursday.