Chad Packard and Star Valley United Church’s Reverend Steve Bibb stepped into the SVI Radio Studio on Thursday, May 7 for the 75th annual National Day of Prayer. Rev. Bibb shared two prayers over the air.

(0:00) Radio network (0:02) 727 on Swift 98 and the spur this morning all part of the weekday wake up today is the National Day of (0:09) Prayer and with that in mind, I have two guests joining me live in studio right now this morning (0:14) That includes Chad Packard and Reverend Steve Bibb in studio today as well. Dad Chad. Let’s start with you.

Appreciate you both coming in and (0:24) 75th National Day of Prayer today, correct? That’s correct. Thanks Duke. It’s great to be here (0:30) Tell us what’s what’s been organized today for this National Day of Prayer.

Well, we just (0:36) there’s been a number of us that have kind of gotten together and wondered what do we do this year for the National Day of Prayer and (0:43) instead of getting a (0:44) breakfast of clergymen together or clergy together (0:48) We just felt like you know, let’s let’s unite the whole valley and get everybody involved. So well, we love it (0:55) Reverend Steve Bibb is joining you today and Reverend (0:57) I was excited when they told me you were the one coming in because your voice is just so incredible and I I (1:03) Get a little I mean, I’m not supposed to covet (1:06) I realized that but I do get a little jealous just a little bit but tell us tell us what you’ll be sharing with us (1:11) Today. Well, what better thing to do on the National Day of Prayer than to pray? (1:16) So the effort is as Chad mentioned they get the whole valley going at the same moment (1:23) engaged in prayer (1:24) to the God as they know God and (1:26) and I (1:29) Bet you’ll see results.

All right, so (1:33) 730 was the time and and we’re almost there (1:36) and so the invite is for people listening if they’d like to (1:38) To join you and if you’re driving pull over if you’d like if not, just just join you (1:43) however, right right the the theme this year put forth by the the group that (1:49) Does this nationally and is the energy behind it is? (1:53) Glorify God among the nations seeking him in all generations and they emphasize all generations (2:00) So we’re gathered together (2:02) wherever we may be to lift our voice in prayer to God as as we know God and that is because the (2:11) National Day of Prayer is is actually a law (2:15) That was passed in (2:16) 1952 requiring the president to to declare a national day of prayer without saying exactly when (2:23) but in (2:24) 1988 (2:26) It was added to the law (2:29) It was amended to say it should be on the first Thursday of the month of May (2:34) so (2:36) This is May Day for us. I guess it is. Yeah, I didn’t even make that connection.

So well Reverend (2:41) Thank you so much for being here. We’ll we’ll let you go ahead (2:44) Okay, well this is first of all the prayer that is given to us by the organizing committee (2:52) nationally (2:53) And it’s based on scripture that says do not be anxious about anything (2:57) But in everything by prayer and pleading with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (3:04) So let’s pray we pray to you (3:07) Oh God Heavenly Father asking that we not be anxious about anything (3:12) But in every situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving (3:18) Present our requests to you (3:20) We ask for the generations all of them to serve honor and respect you with virtuous integrity (3:26) In the states of Wyoming and Idaho come and dwell with us each day from the moment (3:32) We wake up until the moment we lay our heads to sleep (3:36) Guide us safely through the night and wake us with the morning light bless us in the year of our Lord (3:43) 2026 (3:44) Amen (3:46) so (3:47) That’s a brief prayer that we can all share that was given to us. They actually wrote prayers for (3:54) Every state in the Union and each one is different (3:57) But this was the one for for us here.

The (4:02) definition of prayer is (4:06) Wide as you might expect because there’s a lot of different ways to pray and a lot of people that pray in different ways (4:12) But we can define it as an act of communication with the sacred or holy (4:17) Such as God or supernatural powers if that’s your preference and is found in all religions. That’s according to Encyclopedia Britannica (4:26) I spent a lot of time last night reading (4:29) volume 1 to volume 20 of (4:31) Encyclopedia Britannica (4:34) It can be described as an address to God or a God in word or thought (4:40) More simply prayer is often understood as talking to God not at God (4:46) Serving as a direct communication of the human soul with the divine. So additionally prayer can encompass various forms and (4:54) That would be (4:55) doxology praise Thanksgiving (4:58) Confession supplication and intercession or just about anything you want to talk to God about God’s ready to listen (5:05) Not only listen as God promises to do but also to respond Chad, would you say that’s your experience? (5:13) Oh, absolutely.

You know, it’s it’s it’s one thing to (5:17) to think about but you know, all of us all of us need to (5:23) Need some additional help (5:26) Sometimes often and (5:28) it’s it’s I know that is the way it is for me that I can always use a little bit extra help and sometimes a (5:35) lot of extra help so it’s (5:38) to humble ourselves and (5:41) plead before our maker that (5:43) We need help (5:45) National day of prayer goes all the way back to the beginning years of our nation and it was first (5:52) Brought up by General George, Washington (5:55) you might have heard of him before he was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and (6:01) at one point he (6:02) acknowledged the day of (6:04) Quote fasting humiliation and prayer and quote and it was proclaimed by the Continental Congress (6:10) to be held on May the 6th back in (6:14) 1779 so the next time it will be on May the 6th will be next year and (6:19) That’ll be the National Day of Prayer as well. I (6:23) Think that’s kind of cool. We’re absolutely we’re right there.

Love it. Well, thank you so much for the prayer (6:28) Thank you for your insights anything else. You’d like to share Reverend (6:31) I’d like to share this prayer as we conclude (6:34) This is from me and I ask that you would pray with me and all who join us to talk to God as you know (6:42) God Oh (6:43) Holy one we lift our common voices to you as the one upon whom we depend not only for creation and its history (6:51) But for the well-being of all who are present this day and for this time (6:56) We turn to you in lament and share our tears (7:00) We turn to you with rejoicing and share our laughter and praise (7:04) We seek your solace in our losses (7:07) We rest peacefully in the love you have for us and have taught us (7:11) Help us to exercise our love for all people everywhere regardless of their state condition (7:17) Circumstance or age as you have made me Oh God you have likewise made all people everywhere (7:25) Who are we that we should be? (7:29) The subject of your attention before any others of your creation (7:34) You look upon all of us the same would you bless each of us this very moment as we lift our common voice to you (7:42) We would also ask that you would bring peace to the world (7:45) touch the hearts of those who believe violence and oppression are the paths to fulfillment of your desire and (7:52) Touch the hearts of those who are among the oppressed that they may know where they will find rest (7:58) We pray for our nation and in all corners of our country may we know our neighbors (8:04) May the warmth of our heart find the warmth of their hearts and may we find joy with each other (8:10) Hear our prayer.

Oh God Heavenly Father. Oh, holy of holies. Oh creator.

Oh pillar. Oh mantra. Oh Christ (8:18) So mode it be may it be so (8:22) Amen (8:23) Man it’s Reverend Steve Bibb Star Valley United Church Chad Packard on the what is 75th National Day of Prayer (8:30) Thank you so much.

Appreciate it. It’s all part of the weekday. Wake up this morning on the SBI radio network