Locals from all walks of life stopped by the Grundy County Courthouse lawn Thursday afternoon to pause together in prayer.

As schoolchildren from Immaculate Conception School sat cross-legged on the grass, senior citizens brought along lawn chairs and sat under a leafy canopy to take part in the Morris Ministerial Association's National Day of Prayer event.

Steven Heilmann, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church and president of the association, said the gathering was in step with thousands of other gatherings held Thursday across the country.