Plum Coulee native Rosemary Siemens and her husband Eli Bennett made history last week by becoming the first Canadians to perform at the National Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C.
The 75th annual gathering at the U.S. Capitol took place May 7, and Siemens and Bennett were there singing a song she had written for the occasion years earlier in faith that this lifelong dream would one day come true.
“Eight years ago, I wrote a song called ‘Path of Prayer.’ It quickly became the most requested song in our live shows, but I never released it,” Siemens shared. “For years, I would watch the National Day of Prayer and feel so strongly that I was supposed to wait, that this song was meant to be performed there. I even told Eli years ago that I believed we would play it at that event one day. It truly felt like God had a specific moment for it.”
The opportunity became a reality this February when the musical duo were performing at the Synergize religious conference in Orlando, Florida.
“Leaders from around the world, church leaders, were there, and we were invited to play,” said Siemens.
Also on hand was Kathy Branzell, president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. After hearing Siemens and Bennett perform, and learning of their interest in being part of the National Day of Prayer, Branzell issued them an invitation.
“It was just such an honour. It was amazing,” Siemens said. “To have that dream fulfilled was totally a God thing.”
Siemens sees the event as a truly unifying one, where people from all political affiliations gather to seek wisdom from a higher source.
“To have both sides come together for prayer in the highest government in the U.S. is pretty significant, especially with all the turmoil now,” she said. “Just to hope to bring unity through God and focusing our attention on prayer and the power of prayer is just pretty significant.
“To have a song like ‘Path of Prayer’ there, I think was just God’s perfect timing.”
The experience exceeded Siemens’ expectations. Entering the Capitol Building and making their way through the National Statuary Hall left them in awe of the history of the place.
“It is actually the first place where the U.S. government ever met, so it’s very significant,” Siemens said. “And the acoustics were so unbelievable.
“To have that honour, and it just has such a reverence in there. It was more than I could have ever imagined, honestly.”
Siemens’ parents, Jack and Mary Siemens, came out from Plum Coulee to watch her perform, as did her three kids.
“It was so special to have them all there,” Siemens said. “It was one of those moments where you’re like, ‘I can’t actually believe that I’m here.’ I come from this little small town. It’s only through God—He ordained the steps to that moment.”
Siemens and Bennett, who make their home in B.C., are looking forward to coming back to Manitoba for a stretch this summer, and to performing a church benefit concert at the Winkler concert hall in fall.
“It’s my favourite place to come,” Siemens said. “We usually try and come home for a month and spend time on the farm and spend time with family.
“It’s very important for me to have the boys kind of being raised on the farm, feeling that sense of my home and farming and hard work and country living. I want them to experience that. Honestly, it’s their favourite place to go.”
You can stay up-to-date on the details of their upcoming performances at rosemarysiemens.com.
