The National Day of Prayer was observed in Tamaqua on Thursday, with more than one dozen people meeting in front of Tamaqua Borough Hall to pray for the community and the nation. The Rev. Kevin Roberts of Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, Tamaqua, led the group.

This year's theme was "For Your Great Name's Sake, Hear Us ... Forgive Us ... Heal Us."While the National Day of Prayer was first held in 1952, the concept was first established by the Second Continental Congress, which called for a Spring and Fall time of fasting and prayer.Different presidents set aside different days for the prayer, fasting and giving thanks events. Between 1815 and 1862, there were no presidential proclamations for days of prayer.There wasn't a specific day set aside for either event until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln designated the fall event as Thanksgiving, a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.The spring event continued to be held on different dates until 1952, when President Harry S. Truman signed a proclamation approving a joint resolution of Congress, encouraging Americans of all faiths to come together as one.He left the selection of that date to the president.President Ronald Reagan amended Truman's proclamation, setting aside the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer.Since Reagan, all of the country's presidents have issued the National Day of Prayer Proclamation.Rev. Roberts saw the day as a special opportunity."It was exciting to have people from various churches from our community gather together, united in prayer for our nation, our government leaders and our community."