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FLORIDA: Clergy Group Gathers Weekly For Prayer
By VICKIE BECK, correspondent
The Tampa Tribune
TARPON SPRINGS - You'd think ministers already had enough to do on Sunday mornings.
A group of them in Tarpon Springs are beginning their day earlier to pray together before leading their respective weekly services.
Members of the Tarpon Springs Ministerial Association gather at 6 a.m. on Sundays. Participants include leaders of All Saints Episcopal Church, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, East Lake Church of God and St. Timothy's Lutheran Church.
"People are laying down their doctrinal differences and ideologies. While recognizing there are differences, they are laying them aside for the sake of prayer,'' said The Rev. Frank, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church. ``It is the most exciting and wonderful movement of God I've been part of.''
The idea for the ministers' gatherings came in part from the men's group at All Saints, which had met for years and eventually decided to hold a monthly citywide prayer breakfast. The effect and success of that event led the clergy to gather together weekly and pray. Up to two dozen pastors regularly participate.
The pastoral prayer meetings have spawned another regular event. Participating clergy are organizing monthly communitywide worship services at different churches.
"We want to create a new center, a place to provide networking with social service agencies so that people in need don't have to find a way to get all the way to Clearwater for help,'' said Creamer. ``It's a way to bring the Gospel alive.''
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