By Thomas C. Hanson
Congregations around the United States conducted services May 2 for the 45th annual National Day of Prayer. Congress established a national day of prayer in 1952.
In Pasadena 515 people attended a prayer service in the Ambassador Auditorium.
The keynote speaker was Les Blank, dean of the school of theology at Azusa Pacific University. Dr. Blank, in his message titled "Honor God," gave four points to consider about prayer.
J. Thomas Lapacka, pastor of the Pasadena church, welcomed members and guests and introduced Michael Feazell, director of Church Administration, for the invocation.
Next the audience rose as a four-person U.S. Marine Corps color guard entered the main seating area of the auditorium with the U.S. flag and the Marine Corps unit ensign.
The audience sang the national anthem, and eagle scout Brian Hohertz led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Pasadena Mayor William M. Paparian then addressed the group.
The Pasadena church choir, led by Ella-Marie Schatz, sang "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee."
Next was the scripture reading by Kent Puls, pastor of the Canoga Park Lutheran church. Pastor Puls read 1 Chronicles 29: 10-18.
The choir then sang "How Great Thou Art" and did a choral reading of "America, Do You Remember?" accompanied by slides.
Next was Dr. Blank's keynote address: "Prayer: A Trusted Resource for the 21st Century."
After Mike Hale sang "Man After Your Own Heart," three people prayed.
Charles Yuill, a major in the Salvation Army, prayed that God would be honored among our leaders.
Garner Scott Odell of Westminster Presbyterian Church prayed that God would be honored in our families.
Father Efstathios Mylonas of the St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church prayed that God would be honored in each individual's life.
For the closing hymn the audience sang "America the Beautiful," and Mr. Lapacka gave the benediction.
Afterward Mr. Lapacka said: "This service was a much-needed step for the Worldwide Church of God in becoming a part of the local Christian community."
That morning several headquarters employees attended the annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the Pasadena Civic Center.
At noon Dave Smith, director of Computer Information Systems for the church, attended a ceremony near City Hall dedicating a prayer monument.
As part of the dedication, those in attendance broke into groups of three or four to pray for the national government, the city government, the nation's youths and their families.
In Big Sandy, pastor Don Mears and others took part in a Ministerial Alliance prayer breakfast Wednesday, May 1, a meeting on the Ambassador University campus Thursday morning, and a lunch meeting in Gladewater Thursday, where the chorale sang and Mr. Mears gave one of the prayers.
Al Ebeling, pastor of the Boston, Massachusetts, church, commented: "Since the article about the National Day of Prayer first appeared in the Feb. 13 WN I contacted the NDP task force and discussed various ideas with them about how to initiate some activities in my community.
"After some discussion we discovered there was no state coordinator for the NDP in Massachusetts, at which time, you guessed it, I became the state coordinator.
"Since that time, I have had one opportunity after another. I've talked with dozens of clergy, lay leaders, businesses and civic organizations about prayer and how to include community involvement. It's been a real treat.
"My phone rang off the hook with calls from reporters and television and radio stations. It was so exciting and rewarding."
At noon May 2 Mr. Ebeling took part in a public prayer session on the steps of city hall in Boston. That evening Protestant and Catholic clergy met for a prayer banquet.
Seventy-five attend a combined prayer service Thursday evening that the Boston church conducted with the congregation whose building they rent for services. Men, women, children and the pastors prayed at the service.
"Serving as the state coordinator was exciting," Mr. Ebeling said, "because I had a chance to hear people's enthusiasm for the programs they planned. It was also interesting to talk to the media because they were eager to find out what was going on.
"I've received calls from various Christian groups wanting to help plan next year's day of prayer. So I'm really excited about next year's activity already. It will be an opportunity to do what Mr. Tkach Sr. always said: `Let's keep the faith and spread it.'
"Initially I was unsure what the National Day of Prayer was all about, but now having experienced it in such a powerful way, I can see how God can work through it dramatically."
Pastor Keith Brittain said that the New Bern, Wilmington and Jacksonville, North Carolina, churches met in their small group locations. They brought food to eat dinner together, and then prayed for the needs of the nation, and gave thanks to God for his blessings.
Pastor Joel Rissinger said that the Hartford and New Haven Prayer Ministry, composed of several Worldwide Church of God members who have the gift of intercessory prayer, stopped to pray at specific times during the National Day of Prayer, May 2.
Prayer was made for our government, the Christian church, and for peace between the two.
"It is our hope," Mr. Rissinger said, "that this country can and will remain a safe haven for the work of Jesus Christ and the preaching of the gospel."
Some members in the Providence and Norwich churches conducted individual services for the National Day of Prayer.
Walt and Betty Amarelo had an in-home prayer meeting with several members present the evening of May 2. They posted homemade fliers around their community advertising the day.
Four choir members, including pastor Dennis Pelley and his wife, Lorraine, participated in a benefit concert Sunday, May 5.
"This was not specifically for the National Day of Prayer," Mr. Pelley said, "but a combined choir of 80 people from several churches earned more than $3,000 for the Emergency Shelter of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, through donations from those attending the concert."
Members of the Los Angeles church and guests met the evening of April 30 to focus on this year's National Day of Prayer. Because of scheduling conflicts with the hall, the service was shifted from Thursday to Tuesday.
The evening was opened by worship leader Geoff Berg and pianist Judy Van Landuyt as the congregation sang from the Worldwide Church of God hymnal three patriotic songs and hymns extolling and honoring God. Assistant pastor Larry Van Landuyt then read a theme passage from Isaiah 60.
Next, state, national and historic proclamations relating to prayer and the National Day of Prayer were read by James Kessler, Shauna Ferguson and Mia Bradford, Los Angeles youth ministry members.
Adriane Graham sang "This Heart of Mine" and John Recine sang "How Great Thou Art."
Pastor Curtis May delivered the keynote message, "Honoring God."
Then, members Margaret Churchill, Jeannie Early, Charles Ngethe and Elnora Burks prayed that God be recognized and more greatly honored among our leaders, in our homes and families, in our churches and by each individual in our nation.
The service concluded with the assembly singing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."
The Fort Worth church was host to an evening of praise and worship. Hank Berger, a deacon, sang several inspirational songs. Ministers Bob Smith, Max Devereaux and Vince Szymkowiak led the brethren in prayer at the beginning, middle and end of the program. "Discussion centered on how blessed we are to be a part of such a great and free nation," said Mr. Szymkowiak, "and prayers were offered for the success of our leaders and the nation at large."
The Houston North church sponsored a National Day of Prayer Service, May 2. The event was advertised in local media, and Donna Parr, a representative from Mayor Bob Lanier's office was present to receive a proclamation.
Ms. Parr said that most groups want to receive a proclamation, so she jumped at the chance to attend our function and be able to receive one.
She commented on how beautiful the church was and on the diversity she observed. Guests from the community, as well as members from the Worldwide Church of God attended.
Also in attendance were pastor Darrin Winter from the Church of the Compassionate King and Marvin Giles, pastor of the United Methodist Church.
The evening of worship was composed of songs of praise, devotionals, prayers, scripture readings and spiritual lessons. The theme was prayer as it related to family, children, men, women, the church and the world.
Pastor Chris Beam concluded the service with blessings and benedictions for prayer and peace.
In Beaumont, Texas, pastor Don Engle and Eugene Koch, a local church elder, attended a prayer breakfast at the First Baptist Church of Beaumont.
Mr. Engle, his wife, Alix, and Mr. Koch also attended a Southeast Texas area prayer service that evening. Pastors were invited to sit on stage. Several gave messages and prayers calling for repentance and divine intervention in personal and national affairs.
On April 10 Andre Zick, pastor of the Blackfoot and Twin Falls, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming, churches, attended a ministerial association meeting for the Blackfoot community.
"Our congregation wanted to participate," Mr. Zick said, "but I learned that nothing was being done for our area. To my surprise, the association then asked if our church could organize a community event, which we were happy to do. I have found that being part of the association opens up many doors for meaningful service."
They decided to have a service during the lunch hour and advertised the event in area churches and through newspaper and radio advertisements.
They planned to have the service in an amphitheater overlooking Jensen Lake in Blackfoot. However, on the National Day of Prayer, high winds forced the service indoors to the conference room of a hotel adjacent to the amphitheater.
"The prayer service went beautifully," Mr. Zick said. "We sang hymns, had a short message on prayer, and interspersed prayers with scripture readings and special music.
"Nine pastors, including myself, participated in the service. It was inspiring to listen to the prayers given by the ministers that God be honored in our nation and among its leaders, in our families, churches and communities, and in each individual life. About 55 people attended.
"We kept our role as a congregation low key. We were encouraged, however, when toward the end of the service two of the ministers publicly acknowledged and thanked the Worldwide Church of God."
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE--Pasadena Mayor William M. Paparian (left) and J.M. Feazell, director of Church Administration, recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag as a Marine Corps color guard presents the colors. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]
KEYNOTE ADDRESS--Les Blank, dean of the school of theology at Azusa Pacific University, gives four points about prayer. [Photo by Ron Grove]
MAYOR'S ADDRESS--Pasadena Mayor William M. Paparian addresses prayer meeting in Auditorium. [Photo by Ron Grove]
AUDITORIUM SERVICE--J. Michael Feazell, director of Church Administration, recites Pledge of Allegiance. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]
SCRIPTURE READING--Kent Puls, pastor of Canoga Park Lutheran Church, reads scripture (1 Chronicles 29:10-18) at Pasadena service. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]
NATIONAL ANTHEM--From left: Efstathios Mylonas, Greek Orthodox Church; Garner Scott Odell, Westminster Presbyterian; Major Charles Yuill, Salvation Army. [Photo by Ron Grove]
MUSICAL SERVICE--Michael Hale (above) leads congregation in song; Al Killebrew (left) and Terry Willhoite provide musical accompaniment; and the Pasadena church choir sings. [Photos by Ron Grove and Thomas C. Hanson]
WELCOME--Tom Lapacka, pastor of the Pasadena church, welcomes members and guests to the prayer service. [Photo by Ron Grove]
May 21, 1996, Worldwide News, page one
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