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24-hour prayer vigil planned by Unity denomination
By LINDA M. LINONIS
liberty
Be one of the thousands of people around the world praying in the 21st annual vigil planned by the Unity denomination.
One of the best things about the global initiative is that those praying can do so anywhere ... at home, in a church, in a park ... and any time during the vigil from 7 p.m. today to 7 p.m. Thursday.
In the Valley, Unity Centre for Spiritual Living, 1226 Naylor Lloyd Road, will begin the vigil with a prayer service at 7 p.m. today.
The Rev. Ric Schumacher, pastor, said the service will include a single pillar candle that represents the light of the world — Christ — and vigil participants will light their individual candles from it. “The procession out to the angel garden signifies taking our lights out in the world,” the Rev. Mr. Schumacher said of the candlelight walk to the garden, where the service will conclude.
Kirk Kupensky, music director, will present a meditation on the harp at 8 p.m.
Mr. Schumacher said the prayer vigil “also allows people to pray together but not be in the same room.” He said trying to have someone at the church praying during all of the 24-hour period proved to be a challenge. Being able to pray in one’s home or where it’s convenient increases participation, he said.
“We Are the Light of the World: Let Your Light Shine!” is the theme of the prayer activity, which originated at Unity World Headquarters in Unity Village, Mo. There, a candlelight walk in the courtyard will “symbolize the power of our united prayers” said the Rev. Lynne Brown, vice president of Silent Unity, the worldwide, 24/7 prayer ministry of Unity.
Everyone will be able to light a virtual candle at www.worlddayofprayer.org. and also submit a prayer list online. Live-stream events also will be online. The Unity website notes that Charles and Myrtle Fillmore founded the Unity movement in 1889 as a “healing ministry based on the power of prayer and the power of our thoughts to create our own reality.”
“We have set the intention of having two or three people praying for each of the one-hour segments of the vigil because ‘where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I with them,’” Mr. Schumacher said of the verse from Matthew 18:20.
“Historically, the prayer vigil focuses on praying for our community and the world,” the minister said. “Praying for a better world brings us together,” he continued.
In keeping with the theme, Mr. Schumacher said, “We don’t pray to change the conditions or difficulties we face as individuals or in the world, but to be the living expression of the goodness of God. Conditions will change because of that.”
Lynn Denning of Cortland, a Unity member since the 1980s, said she will be involved because “the world needs a lot of prayer.”