Prayer breakfast brings community together
Staff writer
Despite dismal weather conditions, community leaders and concerned citizens of Hillsboro gathered at 7 a.m. Thursday for the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at Grace Community Church offices.
“There was rain and ice and a little bit of snow but we still had a good turnout and a really good service,” Pastor Adam Utecht of Grace Community Church said. “People came in and enjoyed rolls, muffins, coffee, and fruit. We all sat at little round tables, and then the mayor and five or six pastors led us in prayer.”
Mayor Delores Dalke said she had been involved in National Day of Prayer meetings the first Thursday of May since the early 1990s.
“I know it is a traditional thing that many communities still do,” she said. “But I think it is important for us in Hillsboro to get together and show others that we do believe in the power of prayer. I am really glad we do this.”
Dalke began the service praying not only for wisdom for community leaders, but also for improved community relations.
“We, as a community, need to learn to be kind to each other. Prayer would help us with that,” she said. “We also need prayer to help us make good-sense decisions when spending money that the community has made available to us. We need to determine what is important for the betterment of our community, instead of just what individuals think they might need.”
Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church pastor Brian Allen led the group in praying for a list of government leaders, all the way from President Obama down to state and local representatives and leaders.
Hillsboro Ministerial Alliance members at each table led small group prayers for national and local concerns.
“At one point we were asked to pray for something that began with each letter of the alphabet,” Dalke said. “That got a little complicated.”
Dalke said she left the meeting feeling very good about the Hillsboro community.
“It was a wonderful service,” she said. “It is good to see that so many here think enough about our town to come together and pray for each other.”
Utecht said the annual prayer meetings took place each year at a different location in Hillsboro. Last year, community leaders hosted the prayer breakfast at First Mennonite Church.
“We wanted to try a downtown location this year so people could just walk across the street to work afterward,” he said. “I think that helped increase our participation.”