• Mayor's Prayer Breakfast 2018

The third annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast had most of the seats taken up, and was hosted by Mayor Pro Tem Marsha Swanson at the City Council Chambers. 

Mayor Pro-Tem Marsha Swanson addresses the audience.

No need to worry if you're concerned about taxpayer money being used for this event, it wasn't. The costs were covered by the sponsors: Caring Hearts and CR&R.

One of the things available for attendees. There were also bookmarks, pens and stickers.

Those that attended began arriving around 6:30am, and helped themselves to coffee, donuts, fruit and chocolate milk.

Henry Silvestre of GoNutz Donuts made these special donuts for the occasion.

Eight members of Caring Hearts attended... if you're only counting seven, that's because number eight is holding the camera. ☺

The program started with Councilmember Bridgette Moore inviting the people to their seats, then an opening prayer by Pastor Tyler Moore of Cornerstone Church, followed by the National Anthem sung by sisters Samantha and Toni Aguiar.

The entire audience sang along.

Steve Regalado, Post Commander of the VFW in Wildomar then led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. The rest of the program was filled with short messages from five local churches mixed in with two songs. I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story.

Pastor Wink Davis of Gracepoint Church of the Nazarene spoke first.

President Robert Wilson of the LDS church spoke next.

Sandy Thomas and Robert Garza played guitar and sang two songs. The first was called "When We Pray" and the second was an original composition by Sandy called "Make Us One".

Father James Francis Oropel of St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church.

Pastor Steve Price of Calvary Chapel Bear Creek.

Pastor Willie Oliver of Grace and Truth Worship Ministry.

Pastor Willie Oliver was tasked with the closing prayer. He started off with a brief testimony about the power of prayer and then summarized the morning from some notes he'd been taking: 

I want to say thank you Pastor Davis as [you] talked about unity through teamwork and and about "listening to the guide"; then President Wilson talked about prayer aligns us with the will of God; Sandy and Robert sang "When We Pray"; then Father James talked about working together through the bond unity; then the beautiful song [written by Sandy] called Make Us One; then Pastor Price talked about real unity coming from supernatural change. 

That was just so fitting to close this out, because when you look around you see various denominations that probably, normally, wouldn't come together. You see nationalities and different races that come together. And even though we may be praying for the government, unity starts with us and if we can come together, then it spreads abroad. It doesn't spread abroad and [then] come down. 

—Pastor Willie Oliver

He asked all to gather, form a circle and hold hands, to demonstrate unity, as he led the group in prayer.

One side of the room was joined with the other side (see photo below).

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The part that struck me the most was where Father James talked about the bonds of peace, and how around the world many people are not united for peace, they're united for destruction. Where in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "blessed are peacemakers".

"That tells us that peace is work, it's hard work". He then made a distinction between peacemakers and those that are peaceful. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, He didn't say 'blessed are those that are peaceful'.  Peace is earned. Peace is an effort.

—Father James Francis Oropel

In our nation we have red, and blue that represent the two major political parties. Sometimes the news talks about some states being "purple" if they are evenly mixed. I'd like to remind people of the third color in our nation's flag: white. That should represent those of us that aren't part of EITHER party, and can see some pros and some cons in both groups. People don't have to be devout to be part of the unity equation. 

I heard a suggestion that next year's observance of The National Day of Prayer may end up being an evening event. If you have an opinion on it, let's hear what you have to say.

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There is a Smile of Love. And there is a Smile of Deceit. And there is a Smile of Smiles. In which these two Smiles meet.
– William Blake 

Wildomar Rap suggests cutting out the middle man and just roll your eyes instead.

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