Thursday is the kick-off to a month-long community prayer initiative at a Rochester church. Reformation Lutheran Church is open every day this month for prayer.
The chapel is all month long, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for what's called, "Every Day We Pray, 30 Days of Prayer." Senior Pastor, Rev. Imani Olear says Reformation Lutheran Church is committed to serving its neighbors.
The church is located on the edge of the East End cultural district and just blocks away from some of Rochester's poorest neighborhoods. Rev. Olear says the city violence, crimes against the innocent, tensions between community and police are all reasons that she believes the community needs to pray, every day.
Her church stole is embroidered with some of the names of people killed by gun violence nationwide - citizens and police officers.
She's opening the church chapel daily for anyone who wants to come in and pray.
"Even if it's a place of refuge, and a place where they can find some silence, some stillness and some calm amongst all the stuff that's going on in the world. Or maybe it changes people's hearts about one another," said Olear.
There's also a 1 p.m. prayer service scheduled each day with Rev. Olear.