Kansas politicians lead songs and prayers during National Day of Prayer at Statehouse

Jason Alatidd, Topeka Capital-Journal
·2 min read
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The rotunda of the Statehouse was filled Thursday with the booming vocals of Rep. Emil Bergquist leading the singing of "The Lord's Prayer" ahead of prayers by several state officials.

"It's just prayer and worship," said Dave DePue, a minister with the Capitol Commission, who organized the Kansas Statehouse event as part of the National Day of Prayer.

Sam Brownback prays for the nations of the world, including Israel and Ukraine, during a National Day of Prayer event Thursday at the Statehouse.
Sam Brownback prays for the nations of the world, including Israel and Ukraine, during a National Day of Prayer event Thursday at the Statehouse.

Sam Brownback, the former governor and former President Donald Trump's ambassador for international religious freedom, was among the prayer leaders.

"To me, it's the practice of the free exercise clause," Brownback told The Capital-Journal. "It's our guaranteed right. It's a nation whose motto is 'In God We Trust' and it's people practicing that in the state Capitol, exercising their right for religious freedom and lifting up their nation that they're deeply concerned about."

Rev. Cecil Washington, a Topeka pastor and the chaplain of the Kansas Senate, prayed for the entertainment industry during a National Day of Prayer event Thursday at the Statehouse.
Rev. Cecil Washington, a Topeka pastor and the chaplain of the Kansas Senate, prayed for the entertainment industry during a National Day of Prayer event Thursday at the Statehouse.

Brownback added that people are "just really concerned with the times that we're in, it's just so tumultuous. I love (Abraham) Lincoln's quote when he said that 'I have nowhere else to go' and so I prayed."

Thursday's event was one of 26 planned National Day of Prayer events statewide. There were prayers for world peace — including in Israel and Ukraine — and for legislators, law enforcement, schools, government staff and others.

Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill prayed for law enforcement at a National Day of Prayer event Thursday at the Statehouse.
Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill prayed for law enforcement at a National Day of Prayer event Thursday at the Statehouse.

A handful of top Republican officials were among the roughly 150 people in the Statehouse rotunda for Thursday's event. The Legislature is typically in the waning days of session at this time of year but had adjourned roughly 36 hours before the event and most lawmakers had already returned home.

Topeka legislators Rep. Kyle McNorton and Sen. Rick Kloos were among those who led prayers, as were Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill, Attorney General Kris Kobach and Kansas Bureau of Investigation director Tony Mattivi.

"We tried to involve our government leaders and give them some encouragement," DePue said.

Capitol Commission minister Dave DePue organized a National Day of Prayer event Thursday at the Statehouse.
Capitol Commission minister Dave DePue organized a National Day of Prayer event Thursday at the Statehouse.

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas politicians lead songs, prayers during National Day of Prayer