National Day of Prayer

Religion Briefs: Provo church hosts interfaith National Day of Prayer observance

Cody Clark Daily Herald Daily Herald | Posted: Saturday, April 30, 2011 2:00 am

Churchgoers of various faiths from across the country will seek to unite their wills on May 5 when the United States observes its annual National Day of Prayer, a tradition formally established by President Harry S. Truman in 1952.

The largest local observance, the annual Utah Valley National Day of Prayer service, will be held at Provo Community United Church of Christ at 715 N. University Ave. in downtown Provo.

The service will begin at 7 p.m. and features a keynote speaker, musical performances, and prayers and scripture reading by representatives of various local faith groups. A number of Christian churches will participate (including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and there also will be participation from representatives of Judaism, Islam and American Indian faith traditions.

The keynote speaker at the service will be Judge David Sam, a senior U.S. district court judge in the District of Utah appointed by Ronald Reagan. Sam, a graduate of both Brigham Young University and the University of Utah College of Law, was an Air Force captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corp before entering private practice in Duchesne, Utah.

Musical performers scheduled to participate include the One Voice Children’s Choir, pianist Bob Bailey and harpist Hailey Felberg.

The 2011 Utah Valley National Day of Prayer is sponsored by Utah Valley Ministerial Association and Utah Valley University Interfaith Student Association. UVU chaplain Linda Walton is chairman of the event.

The service is free and open to the public.