The power of local prayer

Michele Marr

World peace through local prayer will be the central message atthe

Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council’s fifth annual Prayer

Breakfast on May 2, the National Day of Prayer.

As many as 300 residents of Huntington Beach and FountainValley, many

active in one or more of the nearly 32 various faith communities or

humanitarian organizations that support the council, are expected to

attend the continental breakfast and program of inspirational messages

and entertainment.

The program is meant to get people to say, “Let’s wait a minute. Let’s

take a deep breath. Let’s stop and think about our actions. Let’s get on

with the challenges of the 21st century -- together,” said Rabbi Steve

Einstein, council president.

Several speakers will each take three-minutes to look at the history,

use, meaning, effects and need for prayer in the world and local

communities.

Music from a diversity of cultures and faiths, performed by several

local, professional musicians and the St. Bonaventure Catholic Church

Youth Choir, will intersperse the messages.

Gary Gould on clarinet and Rob Woyshner on piano will open the program

with klezmer music. Susan Collins will present Tibetan bowl mediation.

Other artists will include vocalists Michael Paul Smith and Debi

Wheeler-Ure. Ed Arnold of KOCE will serve as master of ceremonies for the

60-minute program.

“We have worked hard to make this an event that everyone can afford as

well as an event no one wants to miss,” said event organizer Cynthia Doe.

Tickets to the event are $5 and they are available at the door.

New to the event this year will be the presentation of the recently

established Peacemaker Award. Christian Mondor of Sts. Simon and Jude

Catholic Church and Ron Lowenberg, Huntington Beach Chief of Police are

the first recipients to be honored with the award.

“They are being recognized for their lifetime of giving morethan they

have taken, as the constancy of their personal and professional lives

attest every day, and for their very full careers centered on peace,”

said Dave Garofalo, former mayor and chairman of the event.

Since its beginnings the interfaith council has sought to promote

goodwill in the community and to strengthen its spiritual foundation.

“We hope to build bridges of love throughout our community to further

the possibility of world peace,” said Wheeler-Ure, an event organizers.

Mondor said he believes the support of city leaders, who have

whole-heartedly supported the council, has been vital to its success in

responding to the community’s needs.

The interfaith council began seven years ago, he explained -- at the

urging of the City Council -- after a hate crime occurred near the

Huntington Pier. It continues to respond to the needs of the community in

times of crisis.

When asked how he felt about being one of the first recipients of the

Peacemaker Award, Mondor was quick to express his gratitude.

“I am certainly honored by to receive this award, but I feel the honor

really belongs most especially to the whole interfaith council and I

accept it in that light,” he said.

FYI

WHAT: Fifth annual Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council

National Day of Prayer Breakfast

THEME: World Peace Through Local Prayer

WHEN: Thursday, May 2 from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

WHERE: Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, 5402 Heil Ave.

Note: The Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council meets on the

last Tuesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at the Huntington Beach City

Hall, 2000 Main St., Room B-7