National Day of Prayer & Memorial Day in the Inland Empire

Written By Pastor Gary Ovitt

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May begins with the Inland Empire National Day of Prayer Breakfast on
Thursday, May 1 at the Ontario Doubletree Hotel.  It is an early morning, starting at 7:00 AM.  This year’s theme is Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  These were Paul’s words to the Gentiles in Rome to encourage them to stay united in their faith and continue to build up those weaker in faith.

How appropriate it is today to encourage believers to have the hope and peace that only Christ can provide, especially in such tumultuous times.  Times that are very divisive to faith, morality, and family.  May we continue to pray for our nation and believers worldwide.

Next follows Memorial Day which falls this year on Monday, May 26.  The service pays tribute to our fallen veterans.  The event will take place at Bellevue Memorial Park, located on “G” Street and Mountain Avenue in Ontario, at 10:00 AM.  All military branches will be recognized with their appropriate anthems and wreaths.  The keynote speaker will be veteran and Ontario Mayor Paul Leon.  In John 15:13, we read “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  Our Lord and Savior endured that very act for each of us.

As stated by former President Ronald Reagan, “It is in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country, in defense of us, in wars far away.  The imagination plays a trick.  We see these soldiers in our minds as old and wise.  We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired.  But most of them were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives – the one they were living and the one they would have lived.  When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers.  They gave up their chance to be revered old men.  They gave up everything for our country, for us.  And all we can do is remember.”  (Ronald Ragan, 1995)

May this month be filled with prayers for our country and remembrance of those who sacrificed their all – above all, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Pastor Gary Ovitt