The COVID-19 crisis has touched every aspect of our lives over the past two months.
Local plans for the National Day of Prayer are no different. But social distancing and safety precautions won’t stop the public from coming together to pray for our community, civic leaders, schools and health care workers on Thursday.
Organizers adapted this year’s celebration to include a drive-by prayer at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, followed by a Prayer on the Square event on the lawn of the Johnson County courthouse.
“If there was ever a time when we need a day of prayer, it’s now,” said Andy Kinsey, pastor at Grace United Methodist Church. “We’re in this period of time when we need to do things more cautiously, and nevertheless, still try to accomplish our mission. We want to offer a word of encouragement and support for health care, government, all of us.”
The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952, and set to be conducted every year on the first Thursday of May. Across the country, people will celebrate around the central idea of loving their neighbors.
Pastors have come together in past years to pray as one, typically at Franklin City Hall. But the circumstances have changed this year, and area church planners had to get creative.
The day will start with the drive-by prayer, a concept that Grace United Methodist Church has used even before the coronavirus pandemic. People are invited to come to Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., and drive to the church’s portico between 8 and 9:30 a.m.
Church staff will practice social distancing while blessing participants in their cars as they drive to work. They’ll also be wearing masks.
“They’ll receive a blessing and encouragement. We’ll still be practicing physical distancing; people don’t need to get out of their car. But we told people, it’ll just be good to see their faces,” Kinsey said.
National Day of Prayer will continue at noon on the courthouse lawn. Again, people will be asked to keep a safe distance from each other, and are asked to wear a mask to help prevent the spread of the virus.
The ceremony will be short, with participants sharing in Scripture passages and readings. But after the event, people are encouraged to take the power of prayer out to others who may need it, Kinsey said.
The National Day of Prayer will conclude at 2 p.m. locally, with a prayer car-parade for the residents at Otterbein Franklin SeniorLife Community and Compass Park. Car decorating will take place in the parking lot in front of the Wesley Center at Otterbein.
“We want people to go into places in the community. We want them to still be physically apart, but to let them know we’re thinking about them, praying for them. This year, we want people to do more in the community rather than coming together in one particular place for a period of time,” he said.
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National Day of Prayer
What: An annual observance inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation.
When: Thursday
Schedule
8-9:30 a.m.: Drive-thru prayer, Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin. Drive to the church portico for a contact-free blessing and prayer at the church.
Noon: Prayer on the Square, Johnson County courthouse square, downtown Franklin; local faith leaders will lead the public in prayer for our communities. Social distancing will be in place, and masks are encouraged.
2 p.m.: Prayer car-parade at Otterbein Franklin SeniorLife Community and Compass Park; car decorating will take place in front of the Wesley Center at Otterbein.
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