Covenant News - 1,000 People Crowd Capitol Steps to Pray for Leaders

Covenant News

1,000 People Crowd Capitol Steps to Pray for Leaders

SACRAMENTO, CA (August 27, 2001) - More than 1,000 people crowded the steps of California's state Capitol last Sunday for a special worship service conducted by First Covenant Church of Sacramento.

The worship celebration at the Capitol provided an opportunity for people to worship God and pray for state government at all levels, said event worship leader Jim Elliston. State Assemblyman George Runner, whose son, Micah, attends First Covenant, led in a time of prayer. First Covenant's Celebration Band provided music for the worship service.

The Celebration Band is part of Celebration, a Sunday night gathering of young adults and college students praising God and praying for the world. More than 800 young adults from all over the region participate weekly. A host of Sacramento-area churches, including some with Covenant affiliations, were invited to Celebration at the Capitol.

The event was described as one way to honor the Biblical admonition to seek godly wisdom in governance. Event leaders cited 2 Chronicles 7:14, which says "...and if my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

"We pray for the world every week at Celebration, and government is one of the things we pray for," said First Covenant mission associate Gretchen Jones, adding that the event has occurred as far back as 1996. "I think worshipping God in a location that represents state government is significant. To have the freedom to do that is profound. And it draws churches from all over because it's a once a year thing. The combination of people from so many churches is incredible and it definitely draws people that wouldn't necessarily come into a church."

For more information on Celebration at the Capitol, contact Elliston at First Covenant Church by telephone at 916-861-2240 or by email at jelliston@firstcov.org.

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