In Pasadena, a 52-Year Tradition of Faith and Community Endures

For more than half a century, Pasadena’s Annual Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast has endured as a witness to the power of diverse faith communities uniting for common purpose. On May 1, the 52nd such iteration will take place at the Pasadena Convention Center, bringing hundreds of community members together under the timely theme “Resilient Pasadena: Rebuilding Our Community’s Future.”

“As an interfaith and community based organization, the breakfast is a wonderful way to bring together people of different faiths, community organizations, civic leaders, city staff and leaders, as well as the general Pasadena community,” said Rabbi Joshua Grater, Executive Director of Friends In Deed, the organization hosting the event.

The breakfast is scheduled from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. with doors opening at 6:45 a.m.

Representatives from various faith traditions will offer prayers and reflections centered on this year’s theme of resilience and rebuilding — a focus developed in collaboration with the Mayor’s office.

Organizer Friends In Deed began 130 years ago as a coalition of Christian churches but has since evolved to embrace multiple faith traditions while maintaining its core mission of addressing social needs in Pasadena, particularly among vulnerable populations.

“We seek to engage as many people as possible in the work we do, and the breakfast is a great way to highlight our motto of ‘doing together what we cannot do alone,'” Rabbi Grater explained.

The event stands as one of the longest-running interfaith gatherings in Southern California.

Throughout its history, the breakfast has adapted to changing circumstances, including transitioning to virtual formats during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. Its return to in-person gatherings in 2022 represented a significant moment of community reunion and healing.

Rev. Dr. Amy Aitken, Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church, said the event has earned an important place on the community calendar.

“The Prayer Breakfast is one of the ways that Friends In Deed helps to share their mission with the broader Pasadena community, offering a great opportunity to bring various members of our community together to share a meal, engage in conversation and expand our vision for caring for the people of this area.”

“While Friends In Deed began as a coalition among various Christian churches in the Pasadena area, over the decades, the vision expanded to include other faith traditions,” added Rev. Dr. Aitken. “As most religious communities share basic precepts around caring for our neighbors, broad and inclusive partnerships allow us to do work together to do the most good for our neighbors.”

The breakfast serves not only as a spiritual gathering but also as a platform for community leaders from government, business, and nonprofit sectors to connect and collaborate.

Tickets for the breakfast are available for $45. For tickets and more information, interested attendees can visit friendsindeedpas.org/mipb or call (626) 797-2402.

Sponsors include the Pasadena Methodist Foundation/First United Methodist Church of Pasadena and the United Nations Association of Pasadena.