The Kiwanis Club of Roanoke’s annual prayer breakfast, which takes place on the National Day of Prayer, has long been a tradition in the valley. Two years ago, the club made the decision to expand the focus of the event to recognize and embrace the range of faiths in our region.
This is the second spring that the prayer breakfast brings together people of all the Abrahamic faiths — Christianity, Islam and Judaism. In 2012 attendance doubled and the event included round-table interfaith discussions about the place of service to others in faith and a presentation by keynote speaker Dr. David Howell, associate professor of religion at Ferrum College.
National days of prayer date back to the late 1700s; the law was amended in 1988 designating the first Thursday in May each year as the National Day of Prayer, with the intention being that there would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in prayer for the country, and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world.
This year’s breakfast, scheduled for May 2 at the Elks Club in Roanoke, will continue the new tradition. The guest speaker will be the Rt. Rev. Neff Powell, retiring bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. The theme for this year’s breakfast is “We the People.” Rev. Powell will be talking about moving from “tolerance” to “respect” in our dealings with others.
“We want to focus on what unites us and not what divides us,” said Wendy Mellenthin, prayer breakfast committee chair. “As we as a country move to even greater diversity it is important that we seek first to understand and then to be understood,” she said.
The meal will begin at 7:15 and the formal program at 7:30. It will close with prayers in all three faiths. The morning will conclude at 8:30. Tickets are priced at $5.
