By Neil Earle
“We need guidance and direction from God to stay on the right path,” Glendora Mayor Doug Tessitor (pictured, left) told some 200 guests at the Glendora Prayer Breakfast held at the Glendora Country Club, January 24, from 7:00 to 8:45 a.m.
“It was perhaps the first such meeting in some twenty years,“ offered Doug Hodson, pastor of United Methodist Church and one of the key organizers.
Before the mayor’s remarks, Rev. Karen Davis, chairman of the Glendora Ministerial Association, official host for the event, invited guests to mark the occasion as an opportunity to “call attention to the presence and work of God in our lives,” among all the different faith traditions represented.
Following the presentation of the colors and a stirring rendition of the national anthem by Mrs. Bree Noble, the Glenkirk Men’s Quartet offered a lively and unique version of “This Little Light of Mine.” After Bible readings by Betsey Straeter, Susan Scranton and Doug Ferrell, Guest Speaker Charles van Engen from Fuller Theological Seminary addressed the audience. His subject? “Pray With Humility.” Dr. Van Engen held the audience’s attention partly because of his eighteen year residence in Glendora. “My three children attended Glendora High School and my son was an eagle scout,” he remarked.
In his talk, Dr. Van Engen (pictured, right) drew on the golf analogy of aligning oneself with the green and the ball as an example of how prayer aligns believers with God and world. His message was arranged in five key thoughts revolving around right alignment to the God of Creation, Compassion, Commandments, Covenant and Canticles. The God of Creation is evident in the natural beauty of Glendora and its enviable location along the foothills, he said. Compassion is seen in the spirit of voluntarism in the city.
“Voluntarism makes Glendora tick,” Van Engen offered. “Voluntarism means people care.” The Commandments remind us of the rule of law which is essential for any city to function, “but the letter of the law is not enough.” The Great Commandment is to love your neighbor. “God calls us to loving relationships,” he said and quoted Benito Juarez: ”The respect of the right of others is peace.”
That, he concluded, gives every city something to sing about – hence the fifth “C”, Canticles, from an old English word for singing. Dwayne and Jennifer Condon accentuated that last point with a melodic musical offering “On my knees I fall, I fall.” Baptist pastor Tom Stricklin ended the meeting with a closing prayer. Major sponsors of the event were Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company, the Sakiyama Family Foundation, Glendora Rotary Club and others. “Let’s do it again” was the common reaction of many attendees.
Neil Earle is pastor of the Worldwide Church of God in Glendora.