Join us Thursday, May 4, as St. Francis Xavier Parish participates in local observances of the National Day of Prayer. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo-Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.

Locally, several opportunities that day exist to participate:

• Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at Williams on the Lake, 7-8:30 a.m. Tickets are $15 each and available at our parish office.
• Noon prayer service at the Medina Square. All 500+ students at our day school will be walking to the square, where they will take part in an ecumenical prayer service at the gazebo. All are invited to come! Our parish Youth Choir will be leading some of the songs. (In case of inclement weather, the gathering will be held at the Medina United Church of Christ on the northeast corner of the Square.)
• Prayer throughout the day at the Gazebo — the Gazebo has been reserved 1 to 6 p.m. for those who would like to pray for our city, state, nation and world.
• Evening prayer service, Heartland Community Church, 7 p.m. Join with churches from around our city for a time of worship, inspiration, and prayer. The service will feature a community choir, and prayer will be lifted for many aspects of our lives, including our families, our churches, our schools, our government, members of the military, and more. Also, “The Bells of Harmony” will be back by popular demand!