Local religious groups join for National Day of Prayer in New London
New London — A coalition of local Christian religious groups has taken root here with plans to work with local officials to tackle some of the city's social ills.
CityServe Eastern Connecticut is an offshoot of a national movement that encourages religious organizations to collaborate to address municipal issues.
Representatives from some of the group's 30 member churches were present Thursday to pray with Mayor Michael Passero on the steps of City Hall for the kickoff of the 65th annual National Day of Prayer.
Passero read a proclamation from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his own proclamation recognizing religious freedoms in the city and urging citizens to provide spiritual support for their elected officials.
About two dozen people attended.
Through the coordination of the newly formed CityServe group, there were gatherings planned for later in the evening at some churches and outdoors venues representing four entry points into the city.
Calvary Chapel Pastor Al Serino said he believes the New London movement has potential to become a statewide model.
He said the overall concept is to adopt the city, work with community leaders to perform a needs assessment and find “godly solutions” to issues that need to be addressed, such as education, poverty or drug dependence.
“God really has a stake in where you live. People need to take hold of their own community. It’s about giving back to the community you live in,” Serino said.
The group plans to launch a website soon and, depending on its success in New London, may expand into Norwich and Groton, according to CityServe coordinator Fernando Castillo, a member of St. John’s Christian Church in Groton.
A campus ministry prayer team from Connecticut College will hold an event at 6 p.m. on the Route 32 pedestrian bridge.
The Salvation Army will hold a gathering at 6 p.m. at the Waterford Shopping Plaza.
Calvary Chapel will lead prayers at the Frontage Road plaza.
Church of the City Pastor Aracelis Haye said at 7 p.m. her church will have music and prayers near the Whale Tail opposite the train station.
Among others praying at City Hall on Thursday were Calvary Chapel Pastor Joe Paskewich, Engaging Heaven Church Pastor James Levesque, Citywide Baptist Church Pastor Dave Button and Charlene Clark from Miracle Temple of New London.
Special services also are planned Thursday at the Hispanic Alliance Office and Huntington Street Baptist Church.
The day of prayer was created in 1952 by an act of Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a law designating the first Thursday in May as the annual observance.
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