By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Pastor Laura Kamprath, president of the Geneseo Ministerial Association, and pastor at First Lutheran Church in Geneseo, invites the community to the World Day of Prayer Service on Thursday, May 7, in Geneseo City Park. Photo by Claudia Loucks
Plans are a bit different for this year’s Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in observance of the National Day of Prayer.
For many years, the Geneseo Ministerial Association (GMA) has hosted a Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on the first Thursday in May. This year, they are taking a break from that format and planning a prayer service in City Park.
The Rev. Laura Kamprath, president of the GMA, and pastor at First Lutheran Church in Geneseo, said the GMA hopes to host a Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast again in 2027.
She explained this year’s alternative format will allow anyone who wishes to join the GMA members for prayer, with no RSVP or tickets required. People of all ages and faith traditions are welcome to attend.
The service is planned by the GMA members and by lay leaders form Geneseo’s congregations and people of all ages and faiths traditions are welcome to attend.
“This year, we are panning an event that can involve the whole community,” Pastor Kamprath said. ‘As pastors and faith leaders in this town, we want to encourage everyone to come out begin their day with prayer. We’ll join with siblings across our nation to pray for God’s guidance and blessing our leaders, our schools, our families, our churches, and our businesses. In a time when so much of what we see and hear on social media is divisive, we are hopeful that this event will focus on what we have in common with each other – our shared values of life and liberty for all of God’s people.”
The GMA provides opportunities for encouragement and fellowship among clergy in the Geneseo community. Members of the organization meet monthly for prayer, fellowship, and collaboration on Christian ministry and mission, including support of the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Penry.
In addition to Pastor Kamprath, the GMA is led by Pastor Barry Wynveen of First Presbyterian Church; Father Chris Haake of St. Malachy Church, and Mike Sigwalt of the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry.
