Prayer Breakfast Goes Cosmopolitan
With the eclectic collection of religions represented at the upcoming Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, it’s not surprising that the topic for this year’s event is “Unity and Diversity in the 21st Century.”
Delivering the invocation this year will be Erika Gara, a relatively new pastor at United Methodist Church.
Receiving the Community Spirit Award will be Haitham Bundakji, a Muslim leader with the Islamic Society of Orange County.
Providing entertainment are the Knudsen Brothers, a vocal ensemble and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
To top off the assembly of faiths is guest speaker Rev. Kusala, an Iowa-born, Lutheran-raised Buddhist monk. Kusala, an ordained monk for 15 years, lives and works at the International Buddhist Meditation Center in Los Angeles, where he organizes a prison ministry program.
Kusala teaches meditation, tai chi, blues harmonica and yoga to juvenile offenders at the Central Juvenile Hall in East Los Angeles and to men at the California State Prison in Lancaster.
“The diversity of the faiths represented at our prayer breakfasts continues to grow,” said Jennifer Nye, a senior administrative aide helping to organize the event.
“The diversity of the event makes it very, very fun.”
Nye said that Bundakji was selected to receive this year’s Spirit Award because of his efforts to promote interfaith understanding in Orange County and around the world.
Bundakji lead a pilgrimage to the Middle East two years ago with Rabbi Bernard King of Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’lot in Irvine.
The two leaders forged a friendship despite the cultural conflicts that sometimes divide the two faiths.
Bundakji has also been involved in fund-raising for homeless people and disaster victims in Orange County and Jordan.
“He’s just a beautiful person inside,” Nye said. “It’s that spirit that’s being honored.”
The event begins at 7:15 a.m. Feb. 23 at the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Avenue.
Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Information: (714) 741-5280.
Chris Ceballos can be reached at (714) 966-7440.