National Day Of Prayer Event Scheduled For Ocean County

TOMS RIVER, NJ — People across the United States will be taking part in the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, and there will be a local gathering in Ocean County.

The Ocean County event will be held at Huddy Park in downtown Toms River, with two prayer services scheduled, at 11 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m.

It is organized by the Ocean County Judeo-Christian task force.

"The main focus of this prayer gathering is apolitical, biblical prayer for the USA," the organizers said. There will be a shofar sounding as a call to prayer, an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and other activities.

"The National Day of Prayer Task Force is a Judeo-Christian (Holy Bible: Old Testament & New Testament) ministry and the prayer gathering is biblical and apolitical. This is not an interfaith gathering," the organizers said.

Attendees should bring a lawn chair or something else to sit on and their Bibles, non-alcoholic drinks and/or snacks.

The event will be held in the area around the gazebo.

The National Day of Prayer 2024 has the following Bible verse as its theme:

"For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him." 2 Samuel:29-31 KJV

More information on the gathering can be found here.

The National Day of Prayer was formalized in 1986 but has roots dating back to 1952, according to its website.