By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (ANS) – An inter-denominational coalition of Hollywood writers, actors, producers, and other industry professionals will hold a series of weekly evenings dedicated to pray, and build community until the end of the Writer’s Guild of America strike, as well as offer practical support and counseling to those who are experiencing severe burdens due to the work-stoppage.

According to a media release obtained by ANS, the first of these evenings of prayer will take place on Thursday, January 24th at 7:30pm,

The release says the coalition began with an agent, Kim Dorr, who felt the need to reach out to her community, seeing the hurts and fears all around her. It then grew to conversations Kim had with other writers and producers of varying Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical faiths. It now includes professionals of many denominations, as well as area spiritual and ministry leaders. The evenings will be open to anyone regardless of their spiritual tradition and will be a conduit for people to receive fellowship, comfort and support.

Producer Karen Covell, National Director of the Hollywood Prayer Ministry adds, “As people of faith, we needed to do something to respond to the terrible hardship that the strike is causing in the lives of so many people. We want to create an opportunity for people of any stripe to come in and find people who care about them so they know they aren’t alone.”

On Thursday, February 7th, the evening will have a more penitential focus in keeping with the evening falling on the first Thursday of Lent. Notes Barbara Nicolosi, a writer and one of the coalition partners, “Our industry is paralyzed right now by scape-goating, anger and anxiety. If we humble ourselves, and repent of the greed and fear in our own lives, maybe God will intervene and relieve the hardness of hearts that is keeping this strike going.”

The evenings will be held every Thursday until the strike ends, from 7:30pm to 8:30pm in the Mears Center, at the First Presbyterian Church, 1760 N Gower Ave. in Hollywood. For more information, email or call Kim Dorr at Kim@belairpres.org  or (818)231-8767.