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Leaders from a variety of Tri-Valley faith groups gathered last Thursday to celebrate the National Day of Prayer at the Alameda County Fairgrounds Amphitheater.
The tightly organized May 7 program — developed by the staff of Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert with the help of his Interfaith Council chaired by chaplain Ken Wolters and staffer Gloria Gregory — was observed for the seventh time. Haubert, however, was not in attendance this year due to a prior commitment.
As in past years, each faith leader was invited to offer a three-minute prayer for the nation and its leaders at various levels. For some, that involved their traditional worship garments and chants or singing.
In each instance, a colleague accompanied the speaker and translated so the crowd estimated at 300 could follow along. That was particularly true for the Tri-Valley Sikh Center where Parvinder Singh Thapar and Baani Singh spoke on stage while 20 or more orange turban-clad colleagues joined in from the audience.
In addition to the prayer messages, organizers invited the choir from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to sing patriotic hymns in honor of the United State’s 250th anniversary this summer.
This Sunday, a special National Day of Prayer commemorating the first day of prayer called by the Continental Congress in 1776, will be held on the National Mall in Washington D.C. It is free to attend and will be televised and streamed.
Cpt. Terri Sykes, the chaplain at Parks Reserve Forces Training Area in Dublin, opened the prayers, reminding people, “…Let them lead as servants, more concerned for their character than their reputation. For citizens, remind them liberty is not merely a gift, it is an achievement. Lord, with their freedom encourage them that there is a difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.”
Martin Aguilar, the Cornerstone pastor to its Hispanic congregation, said, “Today we declare that our hope is not in the government or in riches, but in Jesus Christ alone, for only in Jesus is there forgiveness of sins, salvations and eternal life.” He offered the same prayer in Spanish, as well.
Speaking in her native language, Hindu temple leaders prayed an ancient blessing following in the tradition of sages from many centuries, “May all the people be well and protected. May the rulers of the earth govern with justice and rightgeouness. May all beings and all of nature be eternally blessed.”
Ustadh Feradidoon Mojadedi from the Muslim Community Center in Pleasanton, put prayer into perspective, saying, “The great poet asked: Have you ever wondered why you pray? Who inspires you to pray?’ And he said, ‘When God wants to answer your prayer. He actually inspired you to pray so he can answer it.’ “
After the 12 prayers were concluded with tight remarks by Rabbi Raleigh Resnick of Chabad Of The Tri Valley who lifted his hands to the sky, saying when faced with problems or battles, Jews always looked up and reached up to God.
