Downtown Woodstock and Canton will be filled with the faithful Thursday as Cherokee County celebrates the National Day of Prayer.

The Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association is sponsoring two midday events this week to observe the 59th annual event, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation.

Participants will join together to pray for the seven centers of power in the country: business, church, education family, government, media and military. Prayers will begin at noon.

The first Continental Congress issued a call for the first national prayer in 1775. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Harry Truman, declared an annual national day of prayer. CCMA President Pastor Larry Baker of Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship in Woodstock said prayer is important right now.

"There is a lot of transition happening in the world today. Now, we see how small our world is. We see that what happens in China and India affects us," he said. "We are trying to get a grip on that and understand it. That is not an easy thing."

This year, the CCMA will have members at the gazebo in downtown Woodstock and Canton to lead people in prayer.

Lynn Eynon of Woodstock Christian Church, who is organizing the Woodstock prayer, said approximately 175 people turned out in downtown Woodstock to pray last year.

"Last year was probably the best attended one we have had," he said. "We are told in Scripture to pray. We believe it will make a difference."

Leading the prayers in Woodstock will be Pastor Ron Anspaugh of First Baptist Church of Woodstock Eynon (military), Pastor Steve Pettit of Branches of Christ (media), Sean Allen of the Gideons (business), Tony or Julie Crawford of Dapyspring Church (education), Ithiel Jones (church) and Cindy O'Leary of the HOPE Center (family).

Mike Krelking of Celebration of Grace Lutheran Church is organizing the Canton event. He said there were 80 to 100 people at the Canton prayer last year and is hoping for more.

"All those areas certainly need our prayers," he said about the seven topics attendees will be praying for.

Leading the prayers in Canton will be Mayor Gene Hobgood (government), Pastor Ryan Smith of True Life Church (military), Pastor Ginny Krekling of Celebration of Grace Lutheran Church (family), Pastor Jamey Prickett of Liberty Hill United Methodist Church (media), Pastor Lemora Dobbs of St. Paul AME (education), Pastor Fred Goodwion of Church of the Messiah (business) and Pastor Alan Lutz of Cherokee Presbyterian (church).