The 61st annual National Day of Prayer is Thursday, and seven sites will be available in Vicksburg.

“My hope is that this event will unite us as a nation and a people under the lordship of almighty God and call upon us to pray for our nation,” said Dr. Willie Nettle, minister of Bypass Church of Christ and chairman of the local National Day of Prayer planning committee.

Participants are asked to gather from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. at: Pemberton Plaza, across from Blockbuster Video; City Hall, Crawford and Walnut streets; the Corps’ Mat-Sinking Unit at the E.W. Haining Industrial Center; Riverfront Park off Washington Street; Kings Community in the old Triumph Church building; City Park Pavilion on Lee Street, and the Old Court House Museum on Cherry Street.

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

The public is encouraged to attend.

Special prayer gatherings will also take place Thursday at Vicksburg Convalescent Home at 10:30 a.m. and Heritage House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 10 a.m.