Henkes, a member of Presbyterian Church of Old Greenwich, will participate in the 57th annual National Day of Prayer.

Henkes last year helped organize Greenwich's celebration of the event, when people across the nation pray for government, military, media, family, church, education and business.

"I think we recognize it's the time we come before the Lord to ask him for grace and wisdom, for his guidance and direction for those who are in leadership of this nation, to recognize that we've been given many freedoms here that many countries don't have and have gratitude for that," Henkes said. "We have much to be thankful for."

Residents of Stamford, Norwalk and other communities also will get together today to connect with the divine.

"We thought it would be a great opportunity to bring the Christian community together and pray for our community and the leaders of it," said Bob Biggers, pastor of Stamford Baptist Church.

It will be the first time churches in Stamford will pray together. In past years, churches have held prayer times individually, Biggers said.

John Carson coordinated Norwalk's day of prayer with other members of his church, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Westport.

"I think it's important to really encourage the nation to come together in a day of prayer, no matter what background, to understand the nation's background in biblical teaching," Carson said.

Such an event first was held in 1775, when