Join in Aurora Prayer Walk for National Day of Prayer May 5
Aurora area residents are encouraged to participate in various prayer efforts in observation of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 5. Again this year, a couple of opportunities are being offered - a prayer walk from 9:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. and neighborhood walks, 7 a.m. or 7 p.m., or when convenient.
These opportunities are all part of a citywide appeal by Aurora church leaders to promote prayer and to show "the Body of Christ demonstrating unity in Christ and praying together."
The prayer walk, some 12 miles in length, will start at 9:30 a.m. at the southwest corner of Orchard Road and West Galena Boulevard. At 12:10 p.m., the walk will be at the Water Street mall/city hall. The walk concludes at 6 p.m. at the corner of McCoy Drive and Route 59.
Individuals are encouraged to do a Neighborhood Walk at 7 a.m. or 7 p.m., or when convenient, by walking around their block and praying for their neighbors.
On the day of the Prayer Walk, call Dan Haas at (630) 816-9314 to determine the location and check the arrival time at a particular point.
Following is a timetable with location and prayer focus of each site:
• 9:30 a.m.: Start at southwest corner of Orchard Road and West Galena Boulevard
• 9:40 a.m.: Countryside Care Centre, 2330 W. Galena Blvd., for seniors, elderly, infirm and health care
• 10:15 a.m.: West Aurora High School, West Galena Boulevard and North Commonwealth Avenue, for high school students
• 11 a.m.: Pregnancy Information Center, 411 W. Galena Blvd., for sanctity of life
• 11:30 a.m.: Paramount Arts Centre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., for arts and entertainment.
• 11:45 a.m.: Fox Valley United Way, 44 E. Galena Blvd., for service agencies
• 12:10 p.m.: Water Street Mall and city hall, 44 E. Downer Place, for mayor, aldermen, city employees, township, county, state, President, and Congress
• 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.: Lunch
• 1:30 p.m.: northeast corner of South Lincoln Avenue and East Galena Boulevard, for homelessness, poverty, repentance and blessing
• 2 p.m.: northeast corner of South Root Street and East Galena Boulevard on unity among local churches
• 2:45 p.m.: Main Baptist Church, 808 E. Galena Blvd., for racial reconciliation and neighborhood development
• 3:10 p.m.: Beaupre Elementary School, Ohio Street and East Galena Boulevard, for grade school students
• 4:15 p.m.: Steck Elementary School, Inverness Drive and McCoy Drive, for elementary/middle school students
• 5:15 p.m.: Aurora Fire Station, McCoy Drive and Gregory Street, for safety for firemen, policemen and military
• 6 p.m.: McCoy Drive and Route 59 for business, jobs and economic development.
For information about the National Day of Prayer in Aurora, visit www.acmn.org or call (630) 816-9314 or (630) 859-0600.
The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln's proclamation of a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.
The Aurora Christian Ministry Network, Love Fox Valley, and Aurora area churches are sponsoring this community appeal for prayer.
Its mission statement reads, "The Aurora Christian Ministry Network is a network of like-minded churches, organizations, clergy, and individuals dedicated to meeting Aurora's urban challenges by giving the light of the Good News of Jesus Christ through responding, mobilizing, and supporting."