May 28, 2007 — Vincent Why had planned to take his wife, Brittany, to the Farquhar Park gazebo on Sunday to celebrate the second anniversary of the day and place they became engaged.

But when the Red Lion couple arrived at the bandstand, they unexpectedly became involved in a group prayer.

About 20 people gathered to celebrate Global Day of Prayer - an event founded by a South African businessman a few years ago. Held on the seventh Sunday after Easter, the celebration marks a day for Christians around the world to pray for the healing of communities.

"We're here to pray and repent, seek God's face on behalf of York, the state and the nation," said Dallastown resident Joe Allison - who organized the Farquhar gathering. "A scripture says, 'bless your city' and that's part of what we're going to do today."

Allison went on a Christian missions trip to South Africa last year. He learned from that experience that spirituality can lead to positive changes in communities, which is why he invited others to the prayer gathering Sunday, he said.

"It put an excitement in me that what I saw in Africa could be taking place around the world," he said.

Allison led Sunday's group in Holy Communion and prayers. He called himself guilty of negative criticism against the City of York and prayed for the community not to be divided.

The group also prayed for the end of violence and bloodshed around the world.

Connie Wragge, who lives in West Chester,

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is a photographer for PhotoMission - an organization that offers an online forum in which photographers can share their art as it relates to God.

Wragge photographed and participated in the service Sunday in York. In addition to PhotoMission, her pictures will be added to the Global Day of Prayer Web site and published in Christian magazines, she said.

Wragge said her work and events such as Global Day of Prayer are important and promote the uniting of Christians.

"It's about God working," she said.