CAMA hosts National Day of Prayer

CONNEAUT – The National Day of Prayer gave the community an opportunity to gather and pray for those who may be experiencing a difficult time.
The Conneaut Area Ministerial Association presented the National Day of Prayer at the Veterans Memorial on Thursday, May 7.
“We have it at noon, the lunch time, to afford people who are on lunch break to come over and participate, and I think it is important because it’s a sign of unity amongst all believers to come together and pray for our country,” CAMA President Nick Iarocci said. “Our country is hurting. It’s broken. It’s in need of prayer and it’s in need of divine intervention. Our country was founded on God, and our country can only prosper with God at the center. This is an important day and I’m so happy we had a decent turnout and just hope that next year it will improve.”
During the event, prayers were offered for families, education, government, business, military, churches and media.
“The national prayer organization identifies those categories which we pray for,” Iarocci said. “We’re praying throughout the country for the same things. All of those organizations, groups or things that we’re praying for are being prayed for throughout the country. I think it’s important because it identifies virtually every facet of society that needs prayer.”
Conneaut Church of Christ Pastor Tim Kraus prayed for families.
“Oh, God and heaven, we are grateful to live in this community,” Kraus said. “We ask, Father, that you would strengthen our families, that children would have parents who love them and nurture them, who prepare them for the future to be productive citizens, to bless others, to care for others. Lord, we pray that children would respect their parents as scripture commands us, that we would honor our father and mother, because we know that a great blessing comes both to the parents and also to the children when they do that.”
“We pray that as fathers and mothers, we would be honorable so that it’s easy for our children to do that. Lord, we pray for families who are struggling financially, that you would provide better means, bless our community with good jobs, and people who will work, and families who can prosper and move ahead,” Kraus said. “Lord, we pray for the aged in our family, those struggling with health issues, and especially those who are nearing the end of their lives, that we might honor them and care for them and surround them with love and admiration. Thank you, God, for blessing us. Help this community to strengthen our nation by making families that are the foundation of our culture.”
First Congregational United Church of Christ Pastor April Osborne said a prayer for education.
“We lift up our educational system to you and ask for your guidance and wisdom to cover every school, teacher, and student,” Osborne said. “Lord, bless the teachers who work tirelessly to inspire and educate, give them strength, patience and creativity to meet the needs of their students. We pray for students, that they will grow in wisdom, confidence and character. We ask for protection from harm and distractions and help them to succeed in their academics. Father God, we ask you guide school leaders and decision makers to make choices that promote fairness, safety and opportunity for all, and that your presence bring unity and peace in every classroom.”
Retired Amboy United Methodist Church Pastor Betsy Schenk offered a prayer for government.
“As I was praying about how to pray for the government, I decided I needed to do it in layers,” Schenk said. “The first layer is our worldwide leader, the government leaders that are trying to come together to find a peace during this last eight weeks, and we need to pray for them. Then I’ll pray for our state and federal government leaders. And then, lastly, our Conneaut as well as our other community leaders.”
Corpus Christi Diocesan Pastoral Associate Nick Perkoski prayed for business.
“Good and gracious God, trader of all that is seen and unseen, we lift before you the businesses of our city,” Perkoski said. “Every storefront, and office, every workshop, and factory, every place where hands labor and minds create, bless the owners who lead with responsibility and vision. Grant them wisdom that is steady and just, hearts that seek the good of others and courage to act with integrity, even when the path is costly. Bless the workers who give their time and strength each day. May their labor be dignified, their efforts fruitful, and their workplaces marked by respect, fairness and peace. Protect them from harm and sustain them in times of difficulty.”
“Bless the customers and all who depend on these businesses,” Perkoski continued. “May transactions be honest, relationships be trustworthy, and communities be strengthened through mutual care. Teach us all to see work, not only as a means of livelihood, but as sharing in your creative love, a way to serve one another and build up the common good.”
Adam Dixon, a member of American Legion Cowle Post 151, said a prayer for the military.
“I’d like to pray for all the sailors, the soldiers, the airmen, the Marines, the Guardians, and the Coast Guard men that are out currently being deployed, have been deployed, have come home, for their families, for the people that their lives have affected. As was said earlier, hopefully we can come to peaceful conclusions in all the things that are happening,” he prayed.
“Almighty God, who alone can bring order to the chaos that man creates, look mercifully upon us as we go about our daily lives,” Dixon continued. “Teach us to apply your wisdom, guide us in our viewings with our fellow men, and give us renewed strength when we seem to falter along the way.”
Iarocci prayed for the churches.
“Heavenly Father, so many people in this world, indeed in this community, are searching, we are seeking answers,” Iarocci said. “We are pursuing things in all this world that do not and cannot satisfy the longings of the human heart. We are seeking to fill the void that exists in our lives. All of humanity are naturally drawn to you, the Creator and God, of all love and goodness. Our hearts are restless, Lord, because they are not resting in you.”
Iarocci said the church was the means in which answers can be found to satisfy the longing and restlessness of people’s hearts, where voids can be filled.
“Your church, father, is the beacon of light and joy to a world that is searching for answers,” Iarocci said. “Heavenly Father, on this National Day of Prayer, we come together to lift up your church across all of America. We pray for profound unity, heart and spirit among all believers, breaking down barriers of denomination and culture. We ask for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bring about everlasting revival, tearing down strongholds of darkness and waking our communities to your presence.”
Finally, Iarocci asked that church leaders and staff be allowed the opportunity to lead.
“Lord Jesus, give pastors and clergy, church staff and volunteers spiritual insight, keen wisdom and tireless heart for the gospel. Strengthen them to lead with integrity, speak with truth and to never lose sight of the mission to make disciples. Father, stir within your church an urgent passion to share the gospel to a hurting and broken world. Make our churches tangible centers of light, healing and hope reaching the lost in our cities and nation and to the ends of the earth. Lord, we ask your protection over your church, that it will remain steadfast in your word. We pray that believers will be courageous in living out their faith and that all plans to stifle you would be thwarted,” he prayed.
Kraus offered gratitude for the rights that Americans enjoy.
“Oh God of heaven that you have given us certain natural freedoms and liberties and rights as humans created in your image and that the founders of nation had the wisdom and the faith to enshrine those in our Constitution, to protect those rights that you have given to us,” Kraus said. “Lord, we’re grateful for the First Amendment that gives us the right to assemble as we are today, that gives us the right to worship according to our conscience and that gives us the right to speak out and to speak truth.”
In his prayer for media, Kraus asked for protection of those who convey the news.
“We pray that you would give them courage and protect them because they often find themselves in places of great danger,” Kraus said. “They also find themselves pressured from one side or the other and, Lord, I pray you give the balance and the wisdom to be able to communicate what is happening accurately to us.”