Glendora Prays!

By Neil Earle

About 220 people attended the annual Glendora Mayor's Prayer Breakfast on February 26 and what a timely event it was.

Mandatory evacuations were common as intense fires left another danger behind: mudslides.

Mayor Joe Santoro (pictured, left) told a distinguished group of civic and church leaders from as far as South Pasadena and even South Carolina that the timing was perfect. "We are the only city in California NOT praying for rain," he quipped, referencing both the drought gripping California and the expected mudslides and mini-avalanches to fall on this foothill city and neighboring Azusa after the dreadful Colby fire. The hills behind us were burnt bare with a cinder-cone look that invited mudslides to pour un-molested downhill.

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"Our city manager is not here because he is out filling sandbags and directing defenses against the slides. Not only that but most of our city staff have been working 18 hour days since the fires to restore order." The mayor was visibly moved as he spoke to the most attentive audience.

United Methodist Pastor Doug Hodson introduced the guest speaker, Reverend Scott Chamberlain (pictured, right) from Montrose, who raised up a church in the heart of skid row in Los Angeles. Scott spoke on collective action as the only way to meet the crisis in homelessness bedevilling the city and the nation. Left-over finds from the high-toned event at the Glendora Country Club were to be given to the San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless which sponsors cold-weather shelters in Glendora each December with the help of churches such as St. Dorothy's Catholic Church and Glenkirk Presbyterian.

Reverend Susan Scranton of Grace Episcopal Church got us off to a lively start by presenting the Sounds of Grace Handbells team from her congregation. Reverend Karen Davis (pictured, left), a former mayor, made a lively MC as the event moved on past Bible readings into prayers for the nation, the community and families and schools. "They were all so eloquent," said Dona Dixon of New Covenant Fellowship. Just as well. Events of the next 36 hours showed Glendora and Azusa needed prayers as people fought to keep their homes and properties safe.

Grace Communion International has had a church in Glendora for 42 years and has been a staunch support of the Prayer Breakfasts since this latest round.