The start of a new school year is a time for excitement, energy and fresh expectations.
Before classes begin, a group of area churches wants to bring people together to pray for a safe return to school.
The Community Praise and Prayer event, held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Franklin Community High School, will be an opportunity for students, parents, teachers, staff and administrators to gather as one, harnessing the power of prayer as they look forward to the coming year.
Organizers from churches throughout Franklin have put together a program featuring inspirational music and group prayers for everyone involved in the schools. Superintendent David Clendening will share thoughts about the upcoming year, then people will be dismissed to go to one of the Franklin schools and continue praying.
The hope is to bring churches and congregations that may have small differences in belief together under the big unifying force of faith, said Gary Walker, pastor at Franklin City Church.
This will be the sixth year for the community prayer event, which was founded in 2014 by the prayer team at Franklin Community Church. The idea was to do a prayer walk around some of the local schools to pray for a positive school year.
Eventually, the idea evolved into hosting a prayer and praise service at Franklin Community High School, bringing together a wide range of other churches and opening the event to people throughout the community.
Since that time, the event has grown in the number of participating churches and the people who have taken part.
“You’re pulling together people from 20 or 30 churches, and it’s kind of a one-of-a-kind event that we’re doing,” Walker said. “It feels like the family comes together for this, even though it’s only for a couple of hours once a year; it’s symbolic.”
Coordinating people from different congregations and segments of the community can be a challenge.
Organizers work with Doug Corliss, director for the Franklin Performing Arts Center at the high school, to put together the technical aspects of the program.
The center routinely hosts large community entertainment events and other performances, so much of what has to be done to prepare is routine, Corliss said. He and his staff sit down with the organizing pastors to plan in advance, schedule crew, set up the stage and get ready for the crowds.
He also prefers to rehearse with the band in advance.
“It really fits into our norm. That’s what we do for any event we’re putting on,” Corliss said.
Joshua Codispoti, worship director at Franklin City Church, has worked with his team to choose fitting musical selections for the event.
“We’re selecting songs that resonate for the purpose we’re here for. Any of the songs we do in worship are drawing attention to the truth that’s given to us, so we’re picking songs that are centered on the grand truths of scripture that we all unite as God’s people,” he said.
The whole evening is a celebration of faith at one of the critical and busiest times of the year, Walker said.
“We’re not just here going through a routine or ritual, we really believe that God is honored when we humbly come before him and praise him, pray and ask for his blessing and protection and wisdom of what happens in our school system. That is the next generation of leaders,” he said.
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Community Praise and Prayer Night
What: An opportunity for students, parents, staff, teachers and community members to gather and pray for the upcoming school year.
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Franklin Community High School performing arts center, 2600 Cumberland Drive
Open to the public
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