National Day of Prayer observed in Cranberry
CRANBERRY TWP — When Jocelyn Christensen and her family moved to the township 10 years ago, she said she was captivated by the community’s openness to working with churches.
Christensen, representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cranberry, was one of several attendees at a National Day of Prayer event at the municipal building on Thursday.
“It’s a really positive event, and (I’m) happy to be a part of it,” said Christensen.
The event, organized by the Cranberry Faith Alliance, took place at noon and went on for about an hour. In the first half the gathering, attendees were free to walk through a trail of eight prayer stations on the Armstrong Great Lawn.
Each station represented a topic for prayer: government, military, media, business, education, faith community, family and personal prayer.
Seven of the stations came from recommendations by National Day of Prayer Task Force. The final station, where local pastors are available for a personal prayer, was a local touch, said Christensen.
The National Day of Prayer Task Force is a Christian nonprofit that coordinates National Day of Prayer events “to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo-Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible,” according to information on its website.
“(It is) great that Cranberry can support this kind of a thing, where neighbors just come together and cross any boundary that there might be to pray or give good wishes toward any good thing we’re trying to do as a community,” said Christensen.
Christensen’s son, Val, who is a student at Haine Elementary School, made 300 prayer beads using a 3D printer, which were distributed to attendees.
The second half the event started with introductions from Bruce Hezlep, chairman of the township’s board of supervisors, and Rev. Tom Parkinson, a senior pastor from Dutilh United Methodist Church.
Hezlep said that while traditions and practices of faiths differ, events like the day of prayer strengthen community by bringing everyone together.
“Here in Cranberry Township, we’re proud to welcome people of all faiths, backgrounds and beliefs,” said Hezlep. “However and whoever you worship, you are a valued member of this community.”
Parkinson, also representing the Cranberry Faith Alliance, led a prayer through the form of a moment of silence.
“We live in a world that’s noisy with all the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. It’s overwhelming,” said Parkinson. “Silent prayer is one of the most powerful forms of prayer.”
Following the prayer was a musical performance from the Seneca Valley Madrigal Choir, led by choir director Bobi-Jean Alexander.
The gathering is the second of its kind at Cranberry. The first National Day of Prayer event in the township was the first event held at the municipal building’s outdoor lawn.
Walt Scott, event organizer, said there was a bigger turnout this year than 2025.
Scott said of the event, “Having the township buy into this and welcome us as one of the four pillars of the community has been wonderful.”
The faith alliance reformed in about 2012, then known as the Council of Churches, said Scott. The group eventually changed its name to be more inclusive of other faiths.
The group includes local congregations with representation from a variety of churches and is open to participation for other religions, Christensen said.
The event at large, nationally, goes back to 1952, when it was first established by Congress. In 1988, former President Ronald Reagan announced the first Thursday in May as the official National Day of Prayer.
