By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Traveling street preacher Joseph Sides sat on the grass at McEuen Park as he took in the prayers and the music Thursday.

“In the Christian Bible, or the Jewish Bible, the Jews and gentiles never hung out because there was a separation between the Jews and the gentiles,” he said. “When you come here to this meeting right here you’ve got all these different denominations. You got 20 pastors here from every church in town, and I will tell you, they disagree in doctrine big time. They could probably argue all day on doctrinal issues. But they come here and they pray together.

“If you can agree on one thing, that’s a start.”

Peaceful music drifted on the air as parents held their children and kissed the tops of their heads, friends put their arms around each other and many serenely lifted their hands and faces to the sky, united in celebrating the annual Day of Prayer.

"We’re here to celebrate our creator, our Lord, our savior Jesus Christ," Candlelight Christian Fellowship pastor Paul Van Noy said during the opening remarks. "This is a great opportunity for the churches to come together, members of the body of Christ, all across the board, across our community, across our county, to come together showing the love that we have for each other and the love for the Lord."

A crowd congregated in the plaza to take part in a day of observance designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation" each year on the first Thursday of May.

This year's theme of "Love One Another" was heard and felt in the words of the roughly 20 pastors who stepped to the mic and invited those in attendance to pray with them.

"That’s the whole deal, getting to know all pastors, who they are, what they look like, what their church stands for,” said Anne Shea of Coeur d'Alene, who attends Candlelight and goes to the Day of Prayer event every year. "(It’s) a gathering of Christians all together from all different churches. It's not just us."

Bible verses were followed by prayers said for President Donald Trump, the three branches of the U.S. government, men and women in the service, the three branches of Idaho government, Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer, city council members, local law enforcement, a national spiritual awakening/humility before the Lord, community leadership, the residents of Kootenai County, the church family in America, spiritual hunger, national repentance, restoration to Biblical foundations, new beginnings, strength in the Lord, integrity in leadership, God's love and truth and the outpouring of God's grace upon us.

"This is one of my favorite days of the year, amen," said pastor Mike Slothover of the River of Life Friends Church in Post Falls.

The National Day of Prayer, presented by the Coeur d'Alene Ministerial Association, was accompanied by live music performed by local church musicians as well as a luncheon offering of hot dogs, chips and bottled water. Events also took place at Post Falls City Hall and at Garden Plaza of Post Falls.