Document text
Christian ministers gather for National Day of Prayer By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune As part of a National Day of Prayer, Christian ministers gather today at noon on the Jackson County Justice Building steps to seek divine help for the city, state, nation and military. Area ministers will deliver prayers and the Cascade Christian Choir of Jacksonville will sing hymns, including "Amazing Grace," "Shout to the Lord," "Can't Live a Day," and the national anthem and "God Bless America." The Rev. Arbie Freeman, pastor of Celebrate Jesus in Central Point will lead a prayer for the city of Medford. Perry Atkinson of KDOV radio in Medford and chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, will lead a prayer for the state. The Rev. Craig Rench of the First Church of the Nazarene in Medford will lead a prayer for the military. The Rev. Larry Jung of the First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville will lead a prayer for the nation. The ceremony will be followed at 7 tonight by an interdenominational prayer service at First Church of the Nazarene, 1974 McAndrews Ave. The religious observance was proclaimed by federal law in 1952 and is organized by the National Day of Prayer Task Force. It is "offered to all Americans (and) executed in alignment with its (NDP's) Christian beliefs," according to the group's Web site at www.nationaldayofprayer.org . People of all faiths are welcome at the downtown ceremony, said Chad McComas, pastor of Medford's Set Free Christian Fellowship, however "It is Christian and no non-Christian groups have stepped forward to organize a prayer." In his prayer for the military, Rench, who is also a Navy reserve chaplain, said he would express gratitude for U.S. military personnel engaged in the war on terrorism. "I'll ask that God will protect, guide and help them to come home and I'm not opposed to asking for victory. America is in grave danger in ways that will make Sept. 11 look like a picnic. I believe prayer will make the difference and that God hears the prayers of people begging for protection." In his proclamation on the Day of Prayer, President Bush said, "We have all seen God's great faithfulness to our country." He called on Americans to give thanks in prayer for the U.S. heritage of liberty, abundance and religious diversity. John Darling is a free-lance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.