Ohev Sholom Congregation

Large-scale ‘day of prayer’ event to be at Bowman Field

(Reprinted with the kind permission of The Williamsport Sun-Gazette.)

A group of area religious leaders joined with Mayor Gabriel J. Campana outside Bowman Field Friday morning to announce a plans for a large-scale "National Day of Prayer" program at Bowman Field.

The event will be at 6 p.m. May 6 and is open to the public with representatives of diverse faiths participating.

The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, according to the Rev. Steve Coran of the Faith Fellowship Worship Center in Jersey Shore.

The annual observance was designated to take place on the first Thursday of May during the administration of President Ronald Reagan.

According to Coran, about 40,000 events are expected to take place across the nation this year, during which people will be drawn together publicly to pray and "exercise their freedom of speech and religion."

Campana said he was present as a "taxpayer" and private citizen because the city cannot officially be a co-sponsor of the event for legal reasons.

"If we could," he added, "we would (co-sponsor)."

Rabbi Shaul Rappeport of Congregation Ohev Shalom will give the opening "prayer for the nation" at the May 6 service and was among those present for the announcement.

Special prayers will be delivered by other clergy, and the service will end with the release by children of balloons, each with a "blessing in them."

Other participants at Friday's announcement included the Rev. Carl Vinning of Amazing Grace Ministries of Montgomery; Don Karaffa, a deacon with the Christian Church of Cogan Station; and the Rev. Mark Holcomb of the Door Fellowship and the Rev. Ron James of the Church of Jesus Christ, both this city.

Rappeport encouraged "everyone to participate," no matter their individual beliefs, and described the program as the kind of event that can "unite us and make us one."

"Prayer is power," added James. "There is nothing like it."