"Our country needs prayers," said Nancy Shonk, summing up the mission of the Mount Joy National Day of Prayer. "We want to honor the people in our community, to pray for them."

The community is invited to a prayer breakfast on Thursday, May 5, at The Gathering Place, 6 Pine St., Mount Joy. Doors will open at 6:15 a.m. and breakfast will be served until 7 a.m., followed by a program and prayers from 7 to 8 a.m. "We do it early in the morning so people can get to work afterwards," said Shonk, who is on the organizing team for the event.

The Mount Joy National Day of Prayer is open to anyone of any faith, and it offers an opportunity to pray for the community, Shonk said, adding that this year's theme follows the national theme "Exalt the Lord who has established us," based on Colossians 2:6-7.

Chaplain Stephen Weber will open the program, followed by remarks by Tim Bradley, the mayor of Mount Joy. SweetLife Music, featuring Matt and Carol Frigm, will provide worship music, and a variety of people will offer prayers based on the topics suggested by the national headquarters of the event. "We invited people and organizations who have a history in Mount Joy," Shonk said. "We wanted to keep it as local as possible."

State Sen. Ryan Aument will pray for the government. Veteran Tracy Miller, who is the manager of Fulton Bank in Elizabethtown, will offer prayer for the military. Mount Joy Chief of Police Robert Goshen will pray for the police, first responders and firefighters. Chaplain Bunny O'Hare will pray for the business community, including commercial, agriculture and trucking. Donegal High School history teacher Justin Neideigh will offer prayer for educators, followed by Tom Weber, pastor of Florin Church of the Brethren, who will say a prayer for the church. Andrea Riefenstahl, executive director of Friends of Donegal, will pray for families and will offer a short talk on the Friends of Donegal organization. Cristina Paden, executive director of Rainbow's End Youth Services, will provide a message and prayer as well.

Shonk noted that the event would not be possible without the support of sponsors, including Bud Handwerk/Annamar Associates, Buch Funeral Home, Florin Church of the Brethren, J.B. Hostetter & Sons, Kleen-Rite Corp., Greg Sallade/State Farm Insurance, Sheetz Funeral Home and Stauffers of Kissel Hill.

"Sometimes I think the importance of community is overlooked, and this is a way to not only honor the community, but also to let other people know what's going on in their community," Shonk said.

Tickets for the Mount Joy National Day of Prayer must be purchased by Sunday, May 1, and are on sale at J.B. Hostetter & Sons, 1225 W. Main St., Mount Joy; Jim Roberts West Main Auto, 14 W. Main St., Mount Joy; and the Mount Joy Chamber of Commerce office, 62 E. Main St. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Shonk at 717-989-6452. For more information on the National Day of Prayer, visit http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org.