Convention of States Action (COSA) regional director and state co-director Michael Arnold put it best when describing the moving opening of last Thursday's National Day of Prayer event in Kingston, Massachusetts:
"The sounding of the shofar, calling all who hear into prayerful contemplation as we readied ourselves to worship the LORD and pray for our nation, was an inspiring and soulful sound...a tradition thousands of years old and still practiced to this day."
The call resounded the theme of this year's annual gathering, the theme of which was derived from 2 Samuel 22: 29-31, "LIFT UP THE WORD/LIGHT UP THE WORLD."
Patriot Academy regional director and Constitution coach Toni Shuppe -- pictured above with her daughter and Michael at the National Monument to the Forefathers in nearby Plymouth -- delivered a passionate testimony about homeschooling, and prayed that parents across the republic would commit themselves to reclaiming and owning up to the responsibilities of being the primary educators of their children.
In addition to spiritual music played and sung by local artists, attendees heard from Leo Martin, co-founder of the The Jenney Interpretive Centre in Plymouth, who discussed Christian nationalism; prayed along with Michael (who also serves as a deacon at Chiltonville Congregational Church), and National Monument to the Forefathers scholar and author Michelle Gallagher, and heard from Plymouth's New Hope Chapel senior pastor Neil Eaton about the relevance of the providence of God in contemporary society.
The event marked Massachusetts state co-director Jane LaBorde's second time attending the National Day of Prayer.
"As expected, it was very inspirational," she said. "The singers were fantastic. The song 'Lift Up the Word/Light Up the World' was written specifically for this event."
COS volunteers enthusiastically participated in the event, with activists from Connecticut, New Hampshire, and as far away as Florida joining members of the Massachusetts team to park cars, direct traffic, and assist disabled attendees to the event.
From the sounding of the shofar to the strains of the closing hymn "How Great Thou Art", for which LaBorde said the audience stood and participated passionately, this latest edition of the National Day of Prayer inspired all who were there to lift up the word, light up the world, and go forth in peaceful resolve to do the necessary work to heal the nation.
