Several events are scheduled next week surrounding the National Day of Prayer, which is Friday.

The Douglas County National Day of Prayer Committee and students from Veritas Christian School, 256 N. Mich., will kick off the events with a prayer gathering at 12:10 p.m. Thursday at the South Park gazebo.

The organizations then will promote a 24-hour prayer session starting at 6 p.m. Friday at the Haskell Indian Nations University stadium. Participants are urged to come and go during the 24-hour period. A closing service is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 6.

Centenary United Methodist Church

245 N. Fourth St.

Sunday: Pancake breakfast by the youth group, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Wednesday: Ladies spring banquet, 6:30 p.m.

Central United Methodist Church

1501 Mass.

Sunday: Youth lead worship service, 10:45 a.m.

Christ Community Church

1100 Kasold Drive

Thursday: National Day of Prayer observance, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Corpus Christi Catholic Church

6001 Bob Billings Parkway

Sunday: “Celebration of Song,” an afternoon of sacred music, 3 p.m.

Eudora United Methodist Church

703 Church St.

May 6: Mother-daughter banquet, 11 a.m.

First United Methodist Church

946 Vt.

Sunday: Taste of Italy spaghetti dinner, 5:30 p.m. Children’s musical, 6:30 p.m.

May 6: Dan Abrahamson Celebration Dinner and recital, 6 p.m.

May 7: Presentation on the church organ, noon.

Lawrence Jewish Community Center

917 Highland Drive

Wednesday: Jewish Community Women annual meeting, 6:30 p.m., Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

May 7: “Jewish Views on the Afterlife,” study led by Rabbi Debbie Stiel, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

Lawrence Wesleyan Church

3705 Clinton Parkway

Today: Ladies’ tea, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Pizza with the Pastor, 12:30 p.m.

Monday: Offices closed.

Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship

700 Wakarusa Drive

Today: Women’s retreat, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

New Hope Church of God in Christ

Olathe

Sunday: Student crusade, 3 p.m., 3139 Wescoe Hall, Kansas University.

North Lawrence Christian Church

647 Elm St.

Sunday: Guest preacher Leonard Wymore, 11 a.m. service.

Plymouth Congregational Church

925 Vt.

Sunday: Guest preacher Kent Cormack, pastor, Manhattan First Congregational UCC. Senior high students lead worship, 9:30 a.m. New member orientation, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Music festival featuring four handbell choirs, 7 p.m.

Southside Church of Christ

1105 W. 25th St.

Sunday: First Sunday for Chris and Michelle Malon, youth interns. Singing service, 6 p.m.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church

5700 W. Sixth St.

Today: Men’s breakfast, 7 a.m. Peter Swalm Family Fun Day, with cookie bake-off and silent auction to benefit Camp Barnabas in Missouri, noon-3 p.m.

Friday: Women’s retreat, 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

May 7: Confirmation class blessing and new building dedication with Bishop Dean Wolfe of the Diocese of Kansas, 10:45 a.m. service.

Trinity Episcopal Church

1011 Vt.

Today: Evening of Art, featuring local artists and students from Bishop Seabury Academy and Van Go Mobile Arts, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Sunday: Service led by youths, 10:30 a.m., followed by potluck lunch.

Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence

1263 N. 1100 Road

Sunday: “Lawrence’s El Papaturro Program Update,” program led by Nick Brown, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Unity Church of Lawrence

900 Madeline Lane

Sunday: “Medicine of the Heart,” presentation by Carlo Hawkwalker, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

West Side Presbyterian Church

1024 Kasold Drive

Tuesday: Outreach committee meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Finance committee meeting, 8 p.m.

Thursday: Men’s lunch at Plum Tree Restaurant, 2620 Iowa, noon.

May 7: Mission Sunday carry-in dinner, with speaker Ken Ratzlaff on Habitat for Humanity, noon.