“I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right; but it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation may be on the Lord’s side” ~ Abraham Lincoln

By Mary O’KEEFE

For those who have attended a church service when it all seemed to be working together, when the prayers were lifted to the rafters and then carried the parishioners out into the world with a renewed feeling of strength, the power of prayer is certain.

There seems to be power in numbers when all are praying for the same result. It is that power that the Silent Unity World Day of Prayer is tapping into on Sept. 14 when worshipers from around the world will take time to pray for peace.

Locally, the World Day of Prayer will be observed at the Center for Spiritual Living-La Crescenta at 4845 Dunsmore Ave. It will be hosted by the Unity Church that rents the CSL-LC facilities. Services will be led by Rev. Jeri Linn.

“I actually have a personal connection with the World Day of Prayer,” Linn said.

She had been part of Silent Unity twice in her life, once during seminary.

Silent Unity is a 24-hour program of prayer when those who would like others to pray for them can call and put in a request. According to the Unity website, Silent Unity has been offering prayer for others for 125 years, servicing people of faiths from all over the world.

For 24 years, the Unity has invited the world to pray and each year a theme is chosen to focus on. This year is, “Together we affirm: I am peace in the midst of all matters.”

This affirmation will be at the center of the prayers on Sept. 14.

“With the tensions of North Korea, we will pray that [differences] can be resolved in diplomatic ways,” Linn said.

There will be a series of prayers led by Linn that will cover all areas of a person’s life. Then the service will end with a prayer for peace.

The theme is at the center of the day.

“[The theme] is that we will find peace in the midst of all matters,” she said.

Linn added those who have attended in the past said they have felt a closeness when they pray together, and knowing that their prayers will be joined with thousands of others.

The Unity Church used to be located on Montrose Avenue, but in 2016 the congregation decided to sell its home building and rent a space for services.

“We have gone through a lot of changes … I hope I never have to go through that again,” Linn said.

She added the congregation knew it was time to move and were behind the decision to sell, but it was a stressful time. They have found a home at the Center for Spiritual Living. The two congregations often share services during holidays, like Christmas, and of course join in Rev. Beverly Craig’s famous Cowboy Church service.

“Unity is echoing this centuries-old practice during World Day of Prayer 2017, calling for peace in the midst. We’re engaging people all over the world with renewed spiritual energy to pray peace … be peace … do peace,” according to the Unity website.

Linn invites everyone to share in the day on Sept. 14 and to add their voices to the prayer for peace.

The service will begin at 11 a.m. and last about 30 to 45 minutes.

  Mary Okeefe