Coronavirus
Mayor’s prayer breakfast held virtually on Facebook
In the 24 years of La Crosse’s Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, the event had never been held exclusively on the internet until Thursday.
Because of COVID-19, the usual ballroom setting was replaced with pre-recorded messages on Facebook.
Pastor Taylor Haley of La Crosse’s First Presbyterian Church was the lead-off speaker, opening his remarks by wearing a face mask, and urging people not to demonstrate against the government or “storm the palace” during the pandemic.
‘Thank God for technology’ is what Dr. Marc Barclay, a Michigan clergyman, told the on-line audience.
Barclay was the event’s keynote speaker, and he praised essential workers, including police, calling it ‘despicable’ and ‘nauseating’ that law enforcement workers are often treated with disrespect by Americans.
The prayer ceremony was pre-recorded, and played on Facebook because coronavirus restrictions prevented a live gathering in La Crosse.
The 35-minute video program included short statements from Mayor Tim Kabat, and from Catholic and Protestant clergy members from the La Crosse area.