By Mary O’KEEFE

The community is invited to the Glendale Gives Thanks Community Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The doors open at 6:45 a.m. with breakfast at 7 a.m.

The Glendale prayer breakfast has been a part of the community for over 50 years. It has brought business, community, civic and religious leaders together in an interfaith gathering that focuses on the positive world of God. For years the breakfast was sponsored through the city but recently responsibility fir the event shifted to religious leaders who formed an interfaith committee.

The executive board of the committee reaches out to all faiths for input on the event, said Camille Levee, Glendale Gives Thanks Committee co-chair.

“I think this is a great opportunity for the faith community to recognize the hard work of those in our city [like] the first responders,” said Rev. Todd Leonard of Glendale City Church.

Leonard added the prayer breakfast focuses on many positive aspects of the city including all who work to keep the community safe.

Since the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania religious communities have come together in solidarity and support. Leonard and Levee said they are now discussing what they will do during the breakfast to respond to the tragedy.

“Positive speech is more important now than ever before,” Levee said.

“My own personal experience, building relationships with others, [is important],” Leonard said. “God’s children are everywhere. We need to make sure we are seeing each other as God’s children, not as the enemy.”

The keynote speaker for the event seems to be a perfect fit for the positive focus of Wednesday’s prayer breakfast.

Hockey Hall of Fame recipient and now retired voice of the LA Kings Bob Miller will be the keynote speaker.

“When [we] asked him what he would be talking about he said, ‘Life is amazing’ because his life has been amazing,” Levee said.

Miller is also the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the broadcasting profession and the game of hockey. He has been inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame and has received a star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame.

Tickets are $40 per person, with additional donation support levels available. For information, and to get tickets, visit www.glendaleprayerbreakfast.com.