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Published on 03/22/1999 All articles from this issue

Prayer breakfast 'ambassadors' spread ecumenism

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By Joan Passarelli

Special to Town Crier

Over the last five years, the Los Altos Community Good Friday Prayer Breakfast has brought together Christians from many different denominations in the community. The prayer breakfast, to be held this year from 7-9 a.m., April 2, is organized by five Los Altos couples, not by any one church.

This year, the organizers established "ambassadors," or liaisons, to many of the city's churches, as a way of getting the word out with a personal touch. They asked members of each church to be the link between the organizing committee and the churches.

"Ambassadors are people who bring information to their own home churches about the prayer breakfast," said Richard Moll, a member of Foothills Congregational Church and the ambassador there. "I posted a flier about it, and put an announcement in the church bulletin."

The ambassadors got their jobs sometimes by simply being asked by a friend.

Steve Welch, the ambassador to St. Nicholas Catholic Church, said, "I had met Paul Foerster (one of the organizers) when my wife and I volunteered for the (Los Altos) Arts and Wine Festival three years ago.

"Then he called and asked me to help out this year. When a nice person like Paul asks you to help out, it's a natural thing to say yes."

Welch, 51, had heard good things about the prayer breakfast before, but hadn't ever attended.

He decided to go this year after a meeting for all the ambassadors.

"There must have been 20 people there," he said, "all from different Christian communities in the Los Altos area, and they were all really nice people. I haven't been really ecumenical in the past, but bringing Christians together from the various branches is a great idea.

"It gives me a good feeling about being a Christian."

This year's event features talks from Dr. Arthur Halliday, a Los Altos physician, and Elaine Stedman, a former Palo Alto resident who has spoken widely on the subject of prayer.

Stedman will be sharing her views on humanness and womanhood.

Halliday will be speaking on his work with drug addicts and how he helps them medically and spiritually, through his faith.

For more information about the breakfast, call 948-5518. Reservation deadline is Monday.