The 2026 Nevada Prayer Breakfast, organized by the Nevada Interfaith Association (NIA), was held on Wednesday, May 13.  Over 400 people were in attendance. Here is a copy of the address presented at the event by Bishop Savoy.

Expression of Faith – Nevada Prayer Breakfast (5/13/26) delivered by the Right Reverend Gene Savoy, Jr.

Good morning, everyone. Thank you all for being here, and thank you Father Chuck for your remarks. I also thank Reverend Matthew and the committee for inviting me to address you here this morning.

When we hear the word faith, many of us picture different things. For some, it’s a sacred text. For others, a ritual, a memory, a community, or a quiet moment alone. But across all of our traditions, one truth seems to echo: faith is not only what we believe, it’s how we express it and what matters most.

An expression of faith can be as simple as a gesture of kindness, or as profound as a lifelong commitment. It can be spoken in prayer, sung in a choir, lived through service, or carried silently in the heart. Faith shows itself not only in our words, but in the way we move and interact in the world.

In every tradition represented here, there is a shared thread: the belief that something greater than ourselves calls us toward compassion, toward understanding, and toward hope. Even when our religions, cultures, and languages differ, the impulse is the same – to connect, to heal, and to uplift.

So when we talk about an expression of faith, we’re really talking about the courage to live by our deepest values and convictions – the courage to see the sacred in one another, the courage to act with love even when it’s difficult.

Today, as people of many faiths, we honor the beauty of those differences and the unity beneath them. May each of us continue to express our faith not only in our traditions but in the way we listen, the way we serve, and the way we show up for one another.

I now offer you an expression of faith.

CALL TO WORSHIP

O Come, Let Us Sing a New Song unto the Lord:

A Joyful and Good Song – A Sound Full and True.

From Pure, Contrite Hearts, United and Clear,

Rise Now the Spirit of Christ: Our Fountain of Love and Light.

Speak to Our Spirit, Lord Supreme;

And Merge Our Consciousness, Our Being, And Form

With Holy Breath in Song.

We Seek Thy Bright Essence of Renunciation and Surrender, 0 Lord Supreme.

Come, Let Us Worship Together Again, as in Ages Past; And Take Us into Thine Ever-Presence with Giving of Thanks, Acknowledging God’s Most Precious Gift: The Glory and Power of Love and Light: Holy Nourishment.

We Are Thy Sons and Daughters of Love and Light, 0 God, Auspicious Source of Life.

O, One God, Father of Lights, Giver of Every and Perfect Gift,

Be in this Holy Temple; Let Earth Keep Silence Before Thee,

That We May hear Thy Word And See Thy Righteous Image of Light.

AMEN. PEACE.

PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

The 2025 Nevada Prayer Breakfast, organized by the Nevada Interfaith Association (NIA), was held Wednesday, May 7 from 7-9 a.m. at the Paradise Ballroom of the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa. The theme of this year’s Nevada Prayer Breakfast was “Peacemaking in Troubled Times.”

Guests were welcomed by Chadd Watson, an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nearly 400 people from the Reno-Sparks community attended the event. The keynote speaker of the program Professor Steven T. Collins, a leading academic on Religious Law, the First Amendment, and productive discourse visiting from Austin, Texas.

In attendance from the Church were: Gene Savoy Jr., Barbara Whitney, Claudia Grady, Shinobu Sonoda-Fuelling, Stephan Fuelling, Sabrina Savoy, and Sophia Savoy.

The purpose of the event is to gather community members of all religions to come together and offer prayerful support for state and local leaders according to their own traditions. Many of the City, County, and State leaders and their representatives were there to join those in attendance as they prayed in their own way.

The Nevada Prayer Breakfast is a gathering of citizens — as well as civic, business, and community leaders — who wish to pray on behalf of our State and bring the spiritual resources of the community together to bear on issues that face Nevadans. Although members of the community may believe differently in their approach to the Divine, they gather at the Nevada Prayer Breakfast as equals. Together, they devote their energies to the good of the State of Nevada. And together, they pray.

NIA is a non-profit interfaith network of religious and spiritual leaders in Nevada. Programs include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Service, the interfaith Nevada Prayer Breakfast, the Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service, and the biannual Interfaith Clergy Luncheon.

Bishop Gene Savoy, Jr. led the Nevada Interfaith Association (formerly the Nevada Clergy Association) as its president from 1999-2017.

The Thirty-Eighth Annual
Nevada Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Thankful for the Peacemakers
A Worship Service of Prayer and Music
From A Variety of Faith Traditions
Sponsored by the Nevada Interfaith Association

Click here to open a PDF of the flyer for download.

Bishop Gene Savoy, Jr. was asked to present at the 31st Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, “Thankful for the Peacemakers”, which was held on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. It was a worship service of prayers, readings, and music from a variety of faith traditions sponsored by the Nevada Interfaith Association. This year’s event was graciously hosted by Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Reno, Nevada. This event is a much-revered tradition in the local community and one that is largely unique nationwide in its scope of faith diversity—something to be very proud of. Bishop Gene was the president of the Association from 1999-2017. A transcript of his message is below.

38th ANNUAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE
Nevada Interfaith Association
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Reno, NV)
Address Delivered by The Right Reverend Gene Savoy, Jr.

The ICC group at our table.

The Nevada Prayer Breakfast, organized by the Nevada Interfaith Association (NIA), was held Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 7-9 a.m. at the Paradise Ballroom of the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa. The theme of this year’s Nevada Prayer Breakfast was “Living Art – Pathway to Peace”
Guests were welcomed by Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony. Nearly 400 people from the Reno-Sparks community attended the event. The keynote speaker of the program Mark Salinas, Chairman of the Reno Arts & Culture commission.

In attendance from the Church were: Gene Savoy Jr., Barbara Whitney, Shinobu Sonoda-Fuelling, Stephan Fuelling, Paige Hubbard, Amanda Buchanan, Francine Petrovich, and Robert Petrovich.

The purpose of the event is to gather community members of all religions to come together and offer prayerful support for state and local leaders according to their own traditions. Many of the City, County, and State leaders and their representatives were there to join those in attendance as they prayed in their own way.

The Nevada Prayer Breakfast is a gathering of citizens — as well as civic, business, and community leaders — who wish to pray on behalf of our State and bring the spiritual resources of the community together to bear on issues that face Nevadans. Although members of the community may believe differently in their approach to the Divine, they gather at the Nevada Prayer Breakfast as equals. Together, they devote their energies to the good of the State of Nevada. And together, they pray.

NIA is a non-profit interfaith network of religious and spiritual leaders in Nevada. Programs include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Service, the interfaith Nevada Prayer Breakfast, the Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service, and the biannual Interfaith Clergy Luncheon.

Bishop Gene Savoy, Jr. led the Nevada Interfaith Association (formerly the Nevada Clergy Association) as its president from 1999-2017.

Attendees at the multi-faith clergy luncheon dialogue July 6, 2022

The Nevada Interfaith Association held its second bi-annual luncheon for 2022 on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at Temple Sinai, 3405 Gulling Road, Reno, NV 89503.

The luncheons allow local religious leaders to meet as an interfaith community to talk about things of importance in their areas of responsibility. After a break of two years, the luncheons also provide a time to renew old friendships and make new ones. The Rabbis Zober provided a welcome and tour of the sanctuary and facility at Temple Sinai before the luncheon.

During the program the association’s new president, Father Charles T. Durante, introduced himself and described what he hopes will be the future objectives and direction of the organization.

Following an explanation of the association’s new membership policy, members made announcements of future activities and programs.

In attendance for the International Community of Christ were the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr. and the Reverend Canon Robert Petrovich.

The Nevada Prayer Breakfast, organized by the Nevada Interfaith Association (NIA), was held Wednesday, May 18, 2022, 7-9 a.m. at the Paradise Ballroom of the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa. The theme of this year’s Nevada Prayer Breakfast was “In Times Such as These:
Humility, Healing and Humanity.” Nearly 400 people from the Reno-Sparks community attended the event. The keynote speaker of the program was the recently installed Bishop of the Reno Catholic Diocese, Bishop Daniel H. Meuggenborg.

The International Community of Christ was one of the sponsors of the event. In attendance from the Church were Bishop Gene Savoy Jr., Rev. Mother Elizabeth Reece, Rev. Canons Robert Petrovich and Amanda Buchanan, Reverends Barbara Whitney and Shinobu Sonoda Fuelling, and Deacon Stephan Fuelling.

The purpose of the event is to gather community members of all religions to come together and offer prayerful support for state and local leaders according to their own traditions. Many of City, County, and State leaders and their representatives were there to join those in attendance as they prayed in their own way.

NIA honored with awards Northern Nevada Hometown Heroes whose vision and courage gave comfort and assistance to many in need during the last two challenging years. Those honored performed special acts of sacrifice, kindness, and compassion where lives were touched and suffering relieved, where the hungry were fed and comfort given, where the sick were ministered to and health restored.

The Nevada Prayer Breakfast is a gathering of citizens — as well as civic, business, and community leaders — who wish to pray on behalf of our State and bring the spiritual resources of the community together to bear on issues that face Nevadans. Although members of the community may believe differently in their approach to the Divine, they gather at the Nevada Prayer Breakfast as equals. Together, they devote their energies to the good of the State of Nevada. And together, they pray.

NIA is a non-profit interfaith network of religious and spiritual leaders in Nevada. Programs include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Service, the interfaith Nevada Prayer Breakfast, the Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service, and the biannual Interfaith Clergy Luncheon.

Bishop Gene Savoy, Jr. led the Nevada Interfaith Association (formerly the Nevada Clergy Association) as its president from 1999-2017.

The first interfaith luncheon sponsored by the Nevada Interfaith Association since 2019 was held Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cathedral. The bi-annual luncheons provide a time and opportunity for clergy of the Northern Nevada region to meet personably and exchange ideas and also inform each other of special events happening in their respective communities. Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. and Reverend Canon Robert Petrovich attended on behalf of the International Community of Christ Church.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s lunch meetings were cancelled. About 25 clergy and other religious leaders attended the luncheon hosted by Fr. Chuck Durante, rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cathedral.

Bishop Savoy is the past president of the Nevada Clergy Association, which recently morphed into the Nevada Interfaith Association, and served in that capacity from 1999-2017. The first interfaith luncheon was held in March 1999 at Trinity Episcopal Church when Bishop Savoy (then Reverend Canon Savoy) took over leadership of the Nevada Clergy Association from the Reverend Him Jeffrey of Trinity Episcopal.

Rev. Sarah Johnson, President of the Nevada Interfaith Association, invites all to view the 35th Annual Nevada Interfaith Association Thanksgiving Service which was held virtually on Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 6:30 P.M. Pacific Time.

“We are so happy to virtually get together to share music, prayers and the spoken word and to give thanks for what we have and pray for healing in body and soul,” said Rev. Johnson. “We are pleased to announce Nevada Interfaith Association now has its own YouTube Channel which will allow us many more “virtual” opportunities.”

The program for the virtual Thanksgiving Service and a link to it on Youtube is attached to this post.

Thanksgiving Live Stream:
35th Annual NIA Thanksgiving Program
One In Origin, One In Healing
Hosted by
Father William Stomski, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Father Chuck Durante, St Thomas Aquinas Cathedral

Radheka Patel Savoy (standing) and Norko Roy (seated left) appeared in Folk Quilt Magazine

The Coming Together quilt created by Nevada Interfaith Association during Nevada’s sesquicentennial year in 2015 and displayed at the Renown Spiritual Center’s Interfaith Sanctuary was recently featured in the latest issue of Quilt Folk Magazine.

Radheka Patel Savoy and Rev. Noriko Roy appeared in the article cover photo. Noriko created and executed the designs representing the Second Advent Church and the Vedic tradition.

Quilt image of the Second Advent Cross

Vedic Design

Hard copy issues of the magazine are available at the Quilt Folk web site. Images of the article are attached below.

A funeral mass was held on February 20, 2020 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church for former mayor of Reno Robert A. (Bob ) Cashell, who passed away February 11th at the age of 81. Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. attended as a representative of the International Community of Christ Church.

Mr. Cashell was a long-time Nevadan. Originally from Longview, Texas, he moved to Reno in 1964 and became a successful businessman and also served as mayor of Reno (2002-2014), Lieutenant Governor of Nevada (1983-1987), and on the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education (1979-1982).

Bishop Savoy had this to say about Bob Cashell: “Bob was a genuine individual from the old school. He had a knack for working with people and bringing them together. He was always a supporter of interfaith relations, and I got to know him while serving as president of the Nevada Clergy Association from 1999-2017. He was a friend of our church, and I got to know him even better when I was invited on to the advisory board of Volunteers of America, a charity that was very dear to his heart.”