The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, and eight prayer sites will be available in Vicksburg.

“We always need to prayer,” said Dr. Willie Nettle, minister of Bypass Church of Christ and chairman of the local National Day of Prayer planing committee. “But it’s especially important during these difficult times.”

People are asked to gather from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. at: Pemberton Plaza, across from Blockbuster Video; City Hall on Walnut Street; the U.S. Army corps of Engineers Vicksburg District on East Clay Street; the Corps’ Mat-sinking Unit at the E.W. Haining Industrial Center; Riverfront Park off Washington Street; and Highland Baptist at Halls Ferry and Cain Ridge roads.

Two nursing homes, Vicksburg Convalescent Home and Heritage House, will host gatherings — Heritage House at 10 a.m. and Vicksburg Convalescent at a time to be determined later.

The National Day of Prayer was established in the 1952 and is held each first Thursday in May.

Prayer Sites

Thursday at:

• Pemberton Plaza, across from Blockbuster Video.

• City Hall on Walnut Street.

•U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District on East Clay Street.

• Corps’ Mat-sinking Unit at the E.W. Haining Industrial Center.

• Riverfront Park off Washington Street.

• Highland Baptist at Halls Ferry and Cain Ridge roads.

Nursing homes:

• Heritage House on Wisconsin Avenue at 10 a.m.

• Vicksburg Convalescent Home on Cherry Street, time to be announced.