LEWISTON -The Rev. Douglas Taylor, director of the Jesus Party, invites the community to a candlelight prayer vigil at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 4, in front of Jesus Party Headquarters at 291 Bates St.

The ministry will be joining the efforts of the American Association of Suicidology, an organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of suicide.

National Suicide Prevention Week is May 4-10. The theme is “Competent Communities: Suicide Prevention through Support, Research and Practice.”

Taylor will address the hard facts of suicide by sharing a message entitled, “The Judas Iscariot Syndrome.”

Taylor said, “It’s time to set aside judgmental ideology and realize that most suicidal persons want to live. However, they are unable to see the alternatives to their problems.”

Suicide cuts across all ages, economic, social and ethnic boundaries, he added. “It is time for the people of faith to share their faith, hope and joy with those who live in our neighborhoods who feel faithless, hopeless and depressed.”

Taylor hopes to spread awareness by holding his weekly service outside the walls of his chapel. The event will conclude with a candlelight faith walk around the neighborhood. Participants will sing hymns, pray and distribute flowers as they visit Spruce, Knox, Maple and Bates streets.

A reading of the declaration “Concerning Violence” authored by the Faith Sub-Committee of the Lewiston and Auburn Community Forum on Violence, will be read. All prayer participants will be treated to a Celebration of Life meal, where each person will have an opportunity to share enthusiastic expressions of their lives.

For more information call Sonia Taylor at 786-5568.

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