National Day of Prayer event to be held in Centreville

CENTREVILLE – A group of St. Joseph County women has put together a local observance centering on the upcoming National Day of Prayer.

The local observance starts at noon Thursday outside the county courthouse and is scheduled to last about an hour.

Vicki Allen, one of a core group of four local residents playing a hand in Thursday’s event, said the fourth-annual prayer session in St. Joseph County is a source of personal strength and worldwide hope.

She said the focus Thursday will be on what is known as the Seven Centers of Influence: government, military, media, business, education, church and family.

Allen said she is thrilled to include youth as part of the event.

“We are having a 7-year-old start off our prayer, then we’ll have a high schooler lead a prayer, so it truly is for the young and older,” she said. “We want this to be a unified gathering where people from all different religions can gather together, pray and lift our voices in one accord.”

Allen said efforts were made to contact every church in the county and invite their members.

The group’s focus will be on the theme “Lift up the word, light up the world.” The theme goes hand in hand with verse 2 Samuel, 29-31.

Established more than 70 years ago, National Day of Prayer is always held the first Thursday in May.

“We had more than 150 people last year, so it’s awesome how it has grown over the years and we just want to keep growing,” she said. “It’s a uniting experience with no denominational focus.”

Allen said the event will take place, rain or shine. She suggested attendees bring a folding chair and, if circumstances warrant, an umbrella.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: National Day of Prayer event to be held in Centreville