YMCA to host National Day of Prayer breakfast

Bringing the spiritual communities together in celebration of fellowship and prayer, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA will host its seventh annual prayer breakfast on the National Day of Prayer, Thurs., May 4, from 6:50 to 8:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village.

Prayer, scripture readings and song will be part of this special morning festivity. The cost is $15 per person and a continental breakfast will be served. Father Dave Heney of St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, Thousand Oaks will serve as this year's master of ceremonies for the YMCA event. Grant Brimhall, former Thousand Oaks city manager, will deliver the keynote address.

"This event is an outreach by the YMCA that provides an opportunity for our spiritual communities to come together to focus on fellowship and prayer on the National Day of Prayer," said Steve Edwards, YMCA prayer breakfast committee chairman. "The YMCA was founded on Christian principles, and this type of an event is a perfect opportunity for our organization to provide the community with a forum to focus on prayer."

Guest presenters this year include: Dennis Carpenter, Thousand Oaks Police Commander; Deacon Vincent Tomkovicz, St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church; Rev. John Tolle, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship; Pastor Tim Delkeskamp, Ascension Lutheran Church; Dr. Howard Wennes, interim president of California Lutheran Church; Cantor Kenny Ellis, Temple Beth Haverim; Jim Lee, Oaks Christian School; Moorpark City Councilmember Keith Millhouse; and Tony Strickland, former State Assemblymember.

"We were proud to have hosted the largest ecumenical gathering in the Conejo Valley last year on the National Day of

Prayer," said John Rutherford, president and CEO of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA.

The Southeast Ventura County YMCA has been serving the greater Conejo Valley and

Westlake/Agoura since 1964. With locations in Agoura Hills, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA serves more than 24,000 people annually.

The prayer breakfast is open to the public. The reservation deadline is Sun., April 30. For more information or to make reservations, call the YMCA at (805) 497-3081.