A local church is inviting the community to participate in a three-day prayer event that will encompass several services as well as meals.

Clanton First United Methodist Church will host a prayer conference Sept. 7-9 with the Rev. Larry Cochran of Go International, a Kentucky-based missions organization that assists American churches.

“The entire community is encouraged to come,” said Pastor Larry Anderson. “The gist of the teaching is going to be on the practical nature of prayer in terms of impacting our everyday lives.”

The schedule is as follows:

Sunday morning, Sept. 7, Cochran will speak in all worship services. These include the early service (8:15 in the sanctuary), contemporary service (9:30 in the worship center located in the Helen E. Parrish Activity Center), traditional service (11 in the sanctuary) and Spanish service (11:30 in the worship center).

Sunday night barbecue will begin at 5 p.m. in the gym. The church will grill hamburgers and hotdogs. At 6 p.m. in the sanctuary, Cochran will lead participants in more practical ways to pray.

Monday and Tuesday, lunch will be served in the old fellowship hall from 12-12:45.

Monday and Tuesday evenings, supper will be served in the gym from 6-6:45. The conference will begin at 7 in the sanctuary.

Each conference session will begin with 15 minutes of blended music. Cochran will teach using PowerPoint and will provide an outline.

“We’re going to apply the teaching creatively each night before we leave,” Anderson said.

A guest children’s minister, Austin Thompson of Cain’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Holtville, will teach children age-appropriate lessons.