Hopes run high that Thursday’s National Day of Prayer will bring large crowds to a series of events in the planning for the past seven months.
“Lift Up the Word — Light Up the World” is the national theme of the event, held the first Thursday in May.
This will be the second communitywide effort by the Boerne National Day of Prayer committee — combining the first-ever Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast with a citywide prayer service on Main Plaza, and an evening event at Christ of the Hills Church in Boerne.
Thursday’s Boerne National Day of Prayer begins with the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, 7:308:30 a.m. at the Kronkosky Center, 17 Old San Antonio Road in Boerne.
“We went to (Mayor) Frank Ritchie, who was so excited. He preaches at his own church, Spring Creek Methodist. He said he’d be happy to give us a message,” said Mina O’Connell, a member of Boerne's National Day of Prayer committee.
The prayer breakfast gets underway at 7:30 a.m. with music from the Boerne Bible Church choir before scripture and invocation from the Rev. Eric Waters of St. John Lutheran Church. The Rev. Ruben Mendez of Iglesa Shalom Church will introduce Ritchie, who will deliver the message and issue a National Day of Prayer proclamation.
Prayers for Culture and Community will come from the Rev. David Chacko, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Will Smith and the Rev. Robert Martinez, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Day of Prayer committee member Rob O’Connell handles participant appreciation before a prayer of unity from American Legion Post 313 Chaplain Eric Christopher and the benediction from Mendez.
Committee member Susan Mendez said this is the group’s second year organizing the communitywide prayer day effort, which begins at noon on Main Plaza.
“We had a small gathering last year, maybe 15-20 people. But this year we’ve put a lot more into it,” Mendez said. “How many turn up, well, that’s in the Lord’s hands. But we know He will be there.”
After introductions and posting of the colors, Rob O’Connell will recite the National Prayer, taken from 2 Samuel 22:29-31.
The Crestmont Christian Preparatory School children's choir will perform before prayers for authorities and leaders are given.
A proclamation from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office will be issued, as will the Kendall County Judge’s proclamation, Judge Shane Stolarczyk and the mayor’s proclamation by Ritchie.
On program to have words are Kendall County Precinct 2 County Commissioner Andra Wisian, Christopher, Kendall County Sheriff Al Auxier and Michael Miller, on behalf of EMT, fire and rescue.
Prayers for church and social services will come from: Staci Almager, Hill Country Family Services chief executive officer; Donna Klingaman, Hill County Pregnancy Care Center executive director; Mark Lynn, St. John youth pastor; Jessica Gombert, Geneva Christian Academy headmistress; Baron Wiley, Boerne Radio; and Balous Miller, Bill Miller BBQ chief executive officer.
The day of prayer organizing began in October, Mina O’Connell said, her group meeting monthly for planning sessions.
“People came out of the woodwork all over Boerne; pastors, musicians, people from all different churches. We went to the mayor, the judge, we went to Andra Wisian, they are all so excited to contribute.”
Tickets are required for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast; the noon Day of Prayer service is free and open to all on the Main Plaza.
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