(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - This is the seventh year of what has become a Christmas Eve tradition in Ketchikan.

“Circle the Hospital with Prayer” started in 2011 when Rhonda Bolling was praying for a family friend. She felt led to ask others to join her to encircle the hospital to pray for her friend and all the patients, staff, and their families on Christmas Eve.

This is not a PeaceHealth event, it’s an independent project begun by Bolling seven years ago that has continued under her direction with the aid of her friends, family and community members.

Each year since, people have joined hands and circled the hospital to sing and say a prayer. It will continue again on Monday, Christmas Eve, when everyone is again invited to “Circle the Hospital with Prayer”.

Participants are asked to meet at 12:15 p.m. in the parking garage at the new Medical Office Building which is accessible from Tongass Avenue by elevator or stairs or by walking down the driveway to the right of the Emergency Room entrance. 

For pedestrian safety, there will be no parking in the parking garage.

The circle will spread around the hospital and when the circle is complete, everyone will sing “Silent Night” followed by a prayer. 

The event is expected to last thirty minutes or less.

Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

 

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