Thursday is the annual National Day of Prayer. The churches in Bowmanstown have planned a different way to pray together.

Pastor Rob Timlin, of Faith Alive United Methodist Church, said he and Pastor Dean Frey, of Emmanuel United Church of Christ, and Pastor Tony Pagotto, of Trinity Lutheran, will host a drive-in prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at Faith Alive’s parking lot. He figures about 100 cars can fit in the lot.

People of all denominations are welcome to come to the prayer service, tune in on their radio to 104.3 FM to hear the Scriptures, and pray from their cars. The event will last about 20 minutes, and people within a mile of the church will be able to tune in from home.

“I think the way it’s been, we’ll have more people,” Timlin said. “People are so anxious to go out.”

This is the first year for the event in Bowmanstown. Timlin said he organized the event because it was very popular in the Lancaster area where he had served before coming to Bowmanstown three years ago. He said the event was originally created to pray for our country and its leaders from the national level down to the local level. This year, it will include prayers concerning the pandemic.

“Praying for God’s help, God’s wisdom,” he said. “Everything people are crying out for.”

The event will include a tribute to the Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company and a gift of homemade masks to them and other first responders.

“I’m kind of excited to have the fire company here. It’s kind of our way to say thank you and we’re praying for you,” he said.

The event will also include reciting the Our Father led by Bowmanstown Mayor Zachary Snyder and the Pledge of Allegiance, and singing “America the Beautiful” and “My Country Tis of Thee.”

Anyone who wants more information or the words to the songs is welcome to contact Timlin at fapastor@ptd.net.