A Night of Prayer & Worship in the Heart of Hollywood

On May 7th, the historic First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood buzzed with excitement, as over 300 members of the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) community converged for the highly-anticipated 2026 National Day of Prayer (NDOP) celebration. All across the campus, various venues hosted carefully curated stations for fellowship, prayer, worship, and powerful encounters with God.

The focus on prayer, creativity, and inspiration encapsulated the heart of HPN's ministry, as industry professionals from all across the city came together to pray in the heart of the world's most influential mission field. As part of HPN's year-long 25th anniversary celebration, the night delivered on every level - spiritually, relationally, and creatively. 

The night kicked off with a fiesta of fellowship in the rose garden, where HPN's block party served up a delectable SoCal feast that included fresh tacos, customizable churro creations, and a delightful assortment of donuts to round out the nosh. A live DJ spun a toe-tapping soundtrack that set the mood, as friends new and old forged connections over free food.

The festive feast culminated in the ceremonial presentation of a birthday cake to commemorate 25 years of HPN's vibrant ministry. This time of social and physical nourishment brought an electric energy to campus, and helped prepare everyone for the spiritual journey ahead. 

The main event drew the crowd in from the courtyard for an incomparable time of worship, as ten powerhouse musicians and vocalists from ten different churches came together to create a joyful offering of praise to the Lord. This soul-stirring time helped everyone shift focus from conversations and community to our Creator.

Founding Director Karen Covell and Pastor JT Tarter took the stage to open the program, pray, and invite everyone into the evening of prayer and reflection. Program Director Kelry Kirschenmann gently guided the group to seek the Lord, as everyone dispersed to visit the creative prayer stations, spend time with God, and linger where they felt drawn.

In the Crossley Theatre, the living word of the bible was given fresh life by talented performers, who filled the atmosphere with declarations of truth from Scripture.

There was space to listen, receive, and allow the word to resonate, before taking the time to journal about where the Holy Spirit was moving and speaking to each person's heart.

It was a time of refreshing that invited participants deeper into the Lord's peace and instruction for their lives. 

In the back room of the Mears Center, with the strains of worship spilling in, participants were invited into a time of reflection at the foot of the cross.

Inspired by the gospel story of the woman breaking an alabaster jar to anoint Jesus' feet with precious oil, this station provided an intentional, intimate space to pray about what precious thing to release into the Lord's hands.

Hearts were deeply stirred, as beautiful words of release were written on shards of pottery and left at the foot of the cross in a humble act of surrender. 

Over in Wiley Chapel, a quiet atmosphere invited attendees to engage with artwork, as they contemplated pieces carefully chosen to draw viewers into a time of closeness with God.

From the washing of feet to walking on water, each image highlighted a different moment or motif from scripture.

Viewers responded as the Spirit led them, in a time of journaling and sketching that allowed them to record how the Lord was speaking to them in this sanctified space.

Back in the Mears Center, the band continued to saturate the atmosphere with praise during an extended time of worship.

Trusted leaders took the stage between worship songs to lift up prayers for the entertainment industry, Los Angeles, and our church community at large. In the prayer room at the back of the Mears Center, attendees were able to receive personal, one-on-one prayer from our powerful prayer team.

In this free-flowing space, participants were able to sing, journal, dance, sit in silence, and receive prayer as they were led, allowing each person to be ministered to as they had need.

As the evening wound down, the community gathered for a final moment of worship and prayer.

Overall, it was a beautiful night that brought together the best of HPN - from food and fellowship, to worship and praise, to personal encounters with God.

This year's NDOP was an undeniable triumph, as the celebration lifted spirits, stirred hearts, and - most importantly - released an outpouring of prayer into the heart of Hollywood.