Community members celebrate National Day of Prayer
Pastor Bob Morris of White Rock Christian Fellowship Church eads a prayer for military members and veterans at the Bandera County Courthouse lawn for the National Day of Prayer. BULLETIN PHOTO/Cari Golyzniak
On May 5, local church leaders gathered together with the community to pray on the County Courthouse lawn for the National Day of Prayer (NDOP), with approximately 120 in attendance.
The NDOP observance was led by the Master of Ceremonies Christopher Dion from White Rock Christian Fellowship Church and the American Legion in Bandera.
Colors were presented by the Bandera JROTC. Shikesha Colony sang the National Anthem, followed by an invocation by Tommy Derrick, Family Pastor of First Baptist Church of Bandera. Roy Rousseau of Church on the Hill in Pipe Creek then sang Amazing Grace.
Six church leaders took the pulpit to lead the crowd in prayer and reflection.
Reverend Dawn Baird, Lakehills United Methodist Church, prayed for the city and county ministries and churches.
Mark S. Caronna, First Baptist Church, said a prayer for first responders, law enforcement, fire fighters, and EMS professionals.
Pastor Bob Morris, White Rock Christian Fellowship Church of Bandera, prayed for military members and veterans.
Pastor Duane Manning, Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church, prayed for the city and county leaders and businesses.
Bill Beedle, Hill Country Samaritans, prayed for the State of Texas.
Lastly, Melissa Morris, Church on the Hill, prayed for the nation.
Rousseau finished the ceremony with the hymn “How Great Thou Art.”
The inspiration to hold a ceremony in Bandera for this years’ NDOP was shepherded in by the First Baptist Church of Bandera.
“The idea to observe the NDOP this year came about when I was reading through a list of activities planned in and around Bandera this year. It seemed to me that God had not been invited or remembered.” said Caronna. “Overall the event went well. It was great to involve the community, JROTC, for sure.”
“The point was to pray, to seek God’s wisdom, direction and guidance and to pray specifically for Bandera City and County, identifying specific parts of the community such as businesses, schools and all of our First Responders, and then to branch out to the larger areas, state, and nation,” Caronna continued.
Per Caronna, the First Baptist Church worked together with other churches in the city and county of Bandera via several Zoom and in-person meetings to coordinate the event.