Prayer

Glendale-based International House of Pancakes has dropped its trademark infringement lawsuit against a church with a Pasadena ministry, agreeing to resolve its dispute with the International House of Prayer out of court. On Dec. 21, the restaurant chain dismissed its case against the church, with its lawyers citing "ongoing mediation with the defendants," according to documents filed in federal court in Los Angeles. The restaurant chain sued the church in September, alleging it misappropriated IHOP trademarks with its website, ihop.

Janine Marnien As news of a possible war with Iraq greets residents on a daily basis, the Justice and Peace Forum at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church is turning to one of its most powerful weapons in an effort to prevent violence: prayer. The group will host an hourlong prayer service Wednesday to pray for a peaceful ending to the conflict with Iraq. The event is nonpolitical, said Katy Sadler, a participant in the service. Sadler is also the assistant principal in charge of student affairs at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

Amber Willard NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Small votive candles silently flickered in a corner of St. Mark's Episcopal Church Friday afternoon, where dozens of people -- parishioners and nonparishioners -- came to reflect on the national day of prayer and remembrance. Betsy Howard, who has lived in the city for two years, covered her face with trembling hands as she sat alone on one of the red-padded pews. "I'm from the New York area. That was my home they destroyed," she said shakily outside the church as cars passed on busy North Brand Boulevard.

Josh Kleinbaum Margo Gabor spent eight months collecting notes with prayers. Some of the notes asked for world peace. Others asked for a cure to multiple sclerosis, which Gabor suffers from. In all, Gabor has more than 1,000 notes, which she planned to deliver to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a place where some believe prayers are answered. But now, Gabor's most important prayer notes are the ones she places in front of a Jesus candle each night.

Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- House of Representatives Chaplain Daniel P. Coughlin presented Rabbi Carole Meyers of Temple Sinai of Glendale with a certificate Thursday morning at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. Meyers, who retired after 15 years of service at Temple Sinai in June, opened Thursday's House session with a prayer at the invitation of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Glendale). Meyers was California's first female solo Congregational rabbi. She was invited to address the legislators based on her extensive community involvement through Habitat for Humanity, the Glendale Community Foundation, the Mayor's Task Force on Hate Crime and the Glendale Police Department.

Joyce Rudolph President Bush has ordered today be a national day of prayer and remembrance of the victims of the terrorist attacks on the East Coast. The following area churches will be open today for prayer and services: Central Christian Church of Glendale. 1479 E. Broadway. Noon to 1 p.m. 242-4169. First Baptist Church At La Crescenta 4441 La Crescenta Ave. Noon to 6 p.m. 249-5832. First Congregational Church 2001 Canada Blvd.

Prayer For America O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy Love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by message of Thy glad tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world.

"Prayer is for the religious life what original research is for science -- by it, we get direct contact with reality. We pray because we were made for prayer, and God draws us out by breathing Himself in." P.T. Forsyth Last Thursday was a great day in many ways. It was the first of the month, it was the first of May, and it was May Day. I love May Day. When I was young, my friends and family members often gave or received May Baskets, May flowers or big tasty May cookies.

Mr. Solis is morally and legally correct in arguing that opening prayers at City Council meetings are un-American. Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that opening high school games with prayers led by school officials is unconstitutional. Pray if you want, pray at City Council meetings if you want, but don't have government officials lead a prayer. The principle of separation of church and state does not forbid prayer; it only forbids government officials -- acting in their official capacity -- from supporting (by offering prayers)

As the country remembers Sept. 11, Muslims in the Glendale/Burbank/Pasadena area remember and mourn as well. Our feelings are represented in the following prayer: Dear God, as our country remembers the heartbreaking events of Sept. 11, 2001, we humbly turn to You in prayer. At a time where our nation is facing unprecedented challenges, we need Your spirit, mercy and strength, now more than ever, to guide us down the right path. Dear Lord, we pray that you have taken under Your merciful wings those who innocently perished on that tragic day. We are grateful they were once a part of our lives.

The challenges facing the youth of La Crescenta fueled prayers by local leaders and clergy who spoke on their behalf at the first ever Crescenta Valley Town Council Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday. More than 250 people gathered at Holy Redeemer's Healy Hall, where Chap Clark - a professor of youth, family and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary - addressed the stress and loneliness felt by so many of today's teens. In 2001 and 2002, Clark worked as a daily substitute teacher at Crescenta Valley High School where his three children attended and he observed how teens felt about their lives.

Former Los Angeles Lakers star A.C. Green spent Thursday morning in Glendale reflecting on the role of mankind and the importance of being selfless. “There's something bigger than us,” he told a room of about 300 people. “Yeah, bigger than me, at 6-foot-9.” Community members gathered at the Civic Auditorium to listen to Green and local leaders talk about religion and the role of a spiritual life at the 49th Annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. “We are here to remember … the life that we have, the life that we lead, we lead not for ourselves, but a greater purpose and cause,” said Green, who spent 16 seasons in the NBA, gaining the nickname Iron Man after playing 1,192 consecutive games.

MISSION HILLS - With 11.2 seconds left and possession of the ball, the Renaissance Academy boys' basketball team had an opportunity to come full circle with its second-half rally. The Wildcats had trailed El Camino Real by double digits as late as the third quarter, but surged the rest of the way to come to within one. Out of the timeout, the Wildcats turned the ball over trying to find Jessy Cantinol open at the top of the three-point arc. They committed a quick foul and the Conquistadors drained both shots.

NORTH GLENDALE — Glendale civic, community and religious leaders on Thursday were advised to find joy in the little things. The message came from Lisa Bowman, a former actress, dancer and sports radio personality, during the city’s 48th annual Glendale Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. “If you want to be happy and joyful, well then that starts with connecting with others,” Bowman, the keynote speaker, told the crowd of hundreds gathered at the Glendale Civic Auditorium early Thursday morning.

Glendale-based International House of Pancakes has dropped its trademark infringement lawsuit against a church with a Pasadena ministry, agreeing to resolve its dispute with the International House of Prayer out of court. On Dec. 21, the restaurant chain dismissed its case against the church, with its lawyers citing "ongoing mediation with the defendants," according to documents filed in federal court in Los Angeles. The restaurant chain sued the church in September, alleging it misappropriated IHOP trademarks with its website, ihop.

Glendale-based IHOP has served up a federal lawsuit against a church with ministries in Pasadena and elsewhere, alleging the International House of Prayer is violating its trademark. The suit asks International House of Prayer to stop using IHOP and similar phrases, and seeks to have the court give the Web address ihop.org to the restaurant chain. Officials at the church, based in Kansas City, Mo., declined to comment. In a statement, church officials said they were aware of the lawsuit and reviewing the claims.

This the second in a three-part series: When Marguerite Beck was 5, she prayed for God to make it snow. Though infrequent, snow in the foothills of La Crescenta wasn't unheard of. She awoke the next day to a blanket of white covering her neighborhood. Raised by a devoutly Catholic mother, Marguerite prayed often after that. "Mass every Sunday," she told me. "No meat on Fridays, confession at least every two weeks and usually daily mass during Lent. All major church holidays were attended in full regalia.

Prayer is one of the most difficult, most intimate things you can do. You open yourself up and sometimes admit things about yourself to thin air that you wouldn?t tell anyone. It?s also one of the harder things to explain. I?ve already had to scrap twice what I had originally planned for this week?s column. I?ve had to consider all the questions: How do you pray? Why do you pray? When do you pray? With whom? Who prays more? Who prays less? Who prays not at all? And above all: What is prayer?

NORTH GLENDALE — Former Los Angeles Dodger Ron Cey — who was a key part of the 1981 World Series-winning team — spoke of the importance of dreams to a room filled with city leaders Thursday for the 47th annual Glendale Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. Cey spoke to several hundred city, community and religious leaders, who filled the Glendale Civic Auditorium early Thursday morning for the event that also featured a series of prayers, with speakers reading from the Koran, New Testament and Hebrew Scriptures.