news-record.com

GREENSBORO - Bits of paper with freshly painted crosses and colorful sunsets spread along the floor of the Spring Garden Community Church.

Congregation members wove colored string through a large loom while soft piano music filled the air.

And Drew Gardner's family and friends penned messages of hope in colored markers on large pieces of white paper that climbed up the wall.

"P4D," one of his friends wrote.

Pray for Drew.

Greensboro residents gathered at the South Elm Street church Saturday afternoon for the final day of a week-long sustained prayer session. Participants quietly prayed, meditated or created a variety of prayer art throughout the week.

In light of the Nov. 12 accident that left Drew, 12, in critical condition, organizers designated the afternoon hours Saturday as a special time for anyone who wanted to think or pray about Drew.

His buddy Taylor Rhynehardt , who was with Drew when a van drove off Lindell Road while they were playing, was among the children hanging out at the church Saturday.

Drew was still listed in critical condition Saturday in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

At the Greensboro church, children and adults laid out bits of broken crockery and china into a colorful community mosaic.

They clipped encouraging phrases out of magazines for collages that will be given to Taylor and Drew.

Becky Knorpp , a neighbor of Drew's who organized the prayer week, said the idea was for residents of all denominations to come together to pray for community and unity.

"Greensboro needs a lot of prayer," she said Saturday.

This is the second time the church has hosted such an event.

The artwork was meant to help focus participants' attention while praying, said Knorpp, who is an artist.

Her husband, Bob Knorpp , said: "The nice thing about this is you can see people's prayer."

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com