Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

Back row from left, Pastor Quinn Adams-Faith Luteran Church, Pastor Harvey Hussey, Glad Tidings Pentecostal Assembly, Darlene from St. Olga’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish, Deacon Gordon Hills. Saviour’s Anglican Church, Doug McCrae-Faith Lutheran Church, and Chaplain Ken Farkash-ShareWord Global.

The Vermilion and Area Ministerial Association hosted its Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on March 13 at Parkview Alliance Church, bringing together community leaders, clergy, and residents for a morning centred on reflection, gratitude, and prayer. The event provided an opportunity to recognize and uplift local leaders, including the mayor, town and county councillors, and school board trustees from both school divisions, in appreciation of their dedication and service to the community.

Ken Farkash of ShareWord Global welcomed attendees to the breakfast and thanked them for their presence before introducing Pastor Scott Whitford of Parkview Alliance Church. In opening remarks, Farkash spoke about the importance of acknowledging leaders at the municipal and provincial levels and offering prayers for their work and the conversations shared around the tables.

Whitford, who served as master of ceremonies, reinforced the purpose of the gathering and read from First Timothy, Chapter 2, noting that the passage encourages people to be thankful for their leaders and to pray for them. He also expressed appreciation for Sharon Jaremco, who catered the breakfast, before offering a prayer of thanks and blessing over the meal.

Clergy and members from several faith communities then led prayers focused on the virtues needed in leadership. Eight prayers were shared throughout the morning, each highlighting qualities such as perseverance, courage, unity, communication, patience, grace, balance, openness, wisdom, and family support. Gordon Hills of St. Saviour’s Anglican Church led the prayer for perseverance and courage, while Darlene offered the prayer for unity on behalf of St. Olga’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish. Pastor Quinn Adams of Faith Lutheran Church read from scripture and led the prayer for communication, and Harvey Hussey of Glad Tidings Pentecostal Assembly delivered the prayer for patience and grace.

Pastor Whitford also led prayers for family and for balance and openness. Deacon Fred Matthews of Frog Lake Anglican Church was unable to attend, and Whitford shared the prayer for wisdom on his behalf. The morning concluded with Doug McCrae of Faith Lutheran Church offering the prayer for vision. Each prayer was delivered with sincerity, asking for guidance and support for leaders as they navigate the responsibilities and challenges of governance in a changing world.

As the event drew to a close, Whitford thanked everyone for attending and offered a final blessing. Mayor Rob Snow then expressed his appreciation for the continued spiritual and community support shown to local elected officials.

“Thank you everyone for coming,” said Snow. “I can’t express enough how much it means to our council, and I hope to county council and the school trustees as well, to have your prayers and support throughout the year. We may not always agree, and we may have voted for different people, but we come together to support each other and our elected officials. I want to thank the Ministerial for putting this together. It is a great example of how people with different perspectives and faiths can come together with a shared purpose.”

The Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast remains a valued tradition in Vermilion, fostering unity, faith, and collaboration among local leaders and community members.