Bay Area Observes 2012 National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS

Bay Area congregations and organization will mark the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS with special worship and educational programs beginning Sunday, March 4.  Along with thousands of faith communities across the nation observing the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS in an effort to bring attention and awareness to the AIDS epidemic here in the United States and to encourage a national dialog on AIDS education, treatment and care.

The purpose of The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is to bring national attention to the AIDS epidemic in the United  States and the extraordinary role faith communities can and are playing in AIDS prevention, education, service and advocacy.

Local congregations are hosting a variety of NWPHA programs:

• Sunday, March 4, 2012 (1PM)Worship Service City of Refuge UCC, 1025 Howard Street, SF  |  [415] 861-6130 Bishop Yvette Flunder, Pastor
• Tuesday, March 6, 2012 (12Noon)Mid Day Prayer Olivet Institutional MBC, 807 27th Street, Oakland  |  [510] 452-4201 Bishop Gordon Humphrey, Jr., Senior Pastor  |  Rev. Gregory Hunter, Local Pastor
• Wednesday, March 7, 2012 (12Noon)Mid Day Prayer City of Refuge UCC, 1025 Howard Street, SF  |  [415] 861-6130 Bishop Yvette Flunder, Pastor
• Wednesday, March 7, 2012 (7PM)Evening Worship with the East Bay Lenten Caravan McGee Avenue Baptist Church, 1640 Stuart Street, Berkeley  |  [510] 843-1774 Rev. Michael Smith, Pastor  |  Rev. Michael McBride, Host Pastor
• Wednesday, March 7, 2012 (7PM)Worship in the Word Beebe Memorial Cathedral, 3900 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland  |  [510] 655-6114 Dr. Charley Hames, Jr., Senior Pastor
• Thursday, March 8, 2012 (12Noon)Bible Study Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd., Oakland  |  [510] 544-8910 Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Jr., Senior Pastor
• Friday, March 9, 2012 (5-7PM)A Cup for A Cure Mixer Numi Tea Garden, 1050 22nd Avenue, Oakland  |  RSVP to [510] 984-2519 Hosted by Faith in the Bay
• Sunday, March 11, 2012 (8AM)Morning Worship Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd., Oakland  |  [510] 544-8910 Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Jr., Senior Pastor

The Center for Disease Control  (CDC)  reports  that  more  than  one million people are living with HIV in  the  U.S.  (an estimated  1,106,400  adults  and adolescents), and approximately one in five of those (21 percent) are unaware of their infections.  Despite increases in the total number of people living with HIV in the U.S. in recent years, the annual number of new infections has remained relatively stable.

To compliment the collaborative efforts of local NWPHA events, local ecumenical leaders have contributed to daily prayers that will be posted and sent through the Faith in the Bay website and social networks.

To view related Bay Area NWPHA programs, activities, and prayers visit http://faithinthebay.com/bay-area-nwpha

For more information on Balm in Gilead, and the National NWPHA programs visit http://nwpha.org