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By PATRICK BUTLER
Religion Editor

“Powerful,” “genuine,” “wonderful” and “best ever” was how black, white and Hispanic participants described the 17th Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast this morning in Tyler.

Event organizers estimated about 500 people attended the 6:30 a.m. event at Harvey Convention Center. It featured local leaders praying for “the concerns of the city.”

The event was held in conjunction with the 57th National Day of Prayer proclaimed by President Bush today. The first Thursday of each May is a now-traditional date on which the day of prayer is held. The theme of the National Day of Prayer is “Prayer! America’s Strength and Shield.”

Keeping with the national theme, tables at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast were clothed in red and blue cloth with facsimiles of a sword and knight’s shield at each table. Red flowers and ceramic “praying hands” and a large stone were alongside. The walls of the center were lined with 40 American flags and paper “bricks” pasted in ragged formation surrounding the room, symbolizing the spiritual wall the “hedge of protection” around the city that prayer produces.”

Tyler Mayor Joey Seeber opened the meeting with an introduction – and a prayer that was not scheduled.

“It’s my prayer breakfast. I can do what I want,” Seeber quipped. He prayed, “Lord, we ought to do this every day. Help us be mindful of those we should be mindful of.”

City councilman Ralph Caraway led prayers for the “spiritual needs” of Tyler. Ross Conner led prayers for the social and educational needs of the city and Dr. John English of Bethesda Clinic led prayers for the physical needs of area residents and their caregivers.

A mixed choir-church choir of about 60 people, conducted by David Berryhill, led the morning “congregation” in worship. First-time and longtime attendees of the prayer breakfast speaking to the Tyler Paper agreed; this year’s event was “the best ever.”

“This was genuine,” said the Rev. Bryan Tema of Grace Community Church of Lindale, a first-time attendee. “The authenticity, the ‘realness’ of it was encourag-ing.”

The Rev. Jesse McLendon, pastor of Winona’s Powell Chapel said, “This was powerful. I’ve been coming to these for years and this was the best one.”

The Rev. Salvador Sanchez, pastor of Hillcrest Inglesia Bautista, said “It was wonderful. In years past we used to have a keynote speaker at (the prayer breakfast). Now we have keynote worship and singing. I love that.”

Friendly Baptist Church and West Erwin Church of Christ served a full, and free, breakfast. The presentation of colors was by the Tyler Police Department Honor Guard.

Check TylerPaper.com later today for additional reaction and details.