2015 Nevada Prayer Breakfast board members and dais PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
The 2015 Nevada Prayer Breakfast, held at the Atlantis Resort “Paradise Room” Tuesday, May 12, 2015, from 7:00-9:00 am, was attended by an estimated 350 people with representatives from over 25 local religious and social organizations. The event is one of several annual events sponsored and promoted by the Nevada Clergy Association (NCA).
The NCA has been in existence for over two decades, and it has taken a lot of time and effort to bring the organization to the state it is now in. But it has been a blessing and something that is dear to the hearts of many in the area.
NCA President Gene Savoy Jr. expressed the uncommon nature of this regional organization by quoting the words of an outgoing minister, Rich Smith, who had recently moved to Reno and became involved with the organization over the five years of his tenure as pastor at the First Congregational Church for the past five years:
“First, I wanted to say THANKS to you and the Nevada Clergy Association for the certificate that Pat Meidell presented to me a couple of weeks ago! It has been a great pleasure to be part of the Nevada Clergy Association for the last five years, and I must say I have never seen such a magnificent level of interfaith cooperation and respect anywhere I have served. And the Nevada Prayer Breakfasts are the ONLY such events I have attended that were so inclusive. When I went to the first one, where Gov. Sandoval spoke, and the Mormon introduced the Imam, and the female rabbi gave an award to the Greek Orthodox priest, I knew that the venue in which it was held, the “Paradise Ballroom,” was very fittingly named! You have done much to create such a climate of interfaith partnership, and I will miss you all very much!”
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.
The Nevada Clergy Association 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. For information call (775) 786-1800 or visit www.NevadaClergy.net.
< Download or view a PDF of the 2015 Nevada Prayer Breakfast Program here. >
— Call to Assemble —
Call to Assemble: “Sounding of the Shofar” – Rabbi ElizaBeth Beyer, Temple Beth Or PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Opening Remarks —
Opening Remarks: The Rt. Rev. Sean Savoy Emcee, Chancellor, International Community of Christ & Chair NPB Committee PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Presentation of the Community Service Award & Tribute to Toni de Salvo (posthumously) PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Welcome —
Welcome: Oscar Delgado, Vice Mayor, City of Reno PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Invocation —
All rise for invocation PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Invocation: The Rev. Shelley Fisher, Reno Buddhist Center PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Breakfast Served —
View down row of three tables reserved by International Community of Christ. At front table (from left to right) Dave Asher, Sylvia Ontaneda, Gary Buchanan PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— NCA President’s Address —
NCA President’s Address: The Rt. Rev. Gene Savoy, Jr., Bishop, International Community of Christ PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
The Rt. Rev. Gene Savoy, Jr. PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Presentation of Vision Awards —
Presentation of the Vision Award to Cherie Jamason, President & CEO, Food Bank of Northern NevadaPresenter: Rabbi Ethan Bair, Temple Sinai PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Presentation of the Vision Award to Col. Charles “Chuck” Fulkerson (posthumously) Presenter: The Rev. Matthew Fisher, Reno Buddhist Center PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Presentation of the Vision Award to Northern Nevada HOPES Presenter: The Rt. Rev. Sean Savoy, International Community of Christ PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Keynote Address —
Keynote Address: Dr. Anthony Slonim, President & CEO, Renown Health PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Expressions of Faith —
Expression of Faith: Nevada Gay Men’s Chorus, “Steal Away” (Traditional Spiritual), Ted Owens, Director PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Expression of Faith: Brian Melendez, Paiute American Indian Spirituality Scholar PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Expression of Faith: Sabrina Alcasas, Taoist practitioner PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
Expression of Faith: Muryum Sulahria, Youth Member, Northern Nevada Muslim Community PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Special Announcement —
Special Announcement on the Interfaith Spiritual Center at Renown: Patricia Meidell, Director of Public Relations, LDS Church, Reno Stake PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
— Benediction —
Benediction: Rajan Zed, President, Universal Society of Hinduism PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling
