Prayers were lifted up by more than 60 residents gathered at noon May 3 at the Moniteau County Courthouse.
Nine clergy from the California Ministerial Alliance led the elected officials, emergency responders, businessmen, retirees and students gathered there in patriotic songs, the Pledge of Allegiance, excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and prayer.
Pastors prayed for local government and the media, for the elderly and sick, for law enforcement and military, for families, for businesses and farmers, and for national leaders.
Following the prayer service, meals were served to emergency responders and other county employees.
Nationally, the theme for the 2018 National Day of Prayer was "Pray for America - Unity," based on Ephesians 4:3: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 and designated as the first Thursday in May in 1988.