The recession has gone righteous in Clear Lake, where Rev. Stephen Oglesbee has launched an initiative, "500 Prayer Requests" in support of those impacted by expected upcoming job cuts at NASA's Johnson Space Center (the Obama administration's 2011 budget will end the five-years-in-the-making Constellation moon-exploration program).

A preemptive move regarding the spiritual fallout that may result from the loss of 11,500 jobs, "500 Prayer Requests" aims to emotionally alleviate Clear Lake's soon-to-be unemployed rocket scientists.

The iniative was planned after Rev. Oglesbee was visited by a group of 6th and 7th graders submitting a list of 25 names of people they're worried about. "We wanted to do something to help the community," Oglesbee told Ultimate Clear Lake. Notes reporter Jenny Montgomery of Ultimate Clear Lake, "Prayer was an obvious choice, and gathering specific prayer requests requires congregants to reach out in a practical way."

A "practical" way of coping with job loss may include food drives, free job search advising and stress coping seminars. Surely the enlightened astronauts will appreciate a little prayer or two — but is Clear Lake Presbyterian wishing on a shooting star?

Things aren't all gloom at NASA, though: This week at Space Center Houston, the soon-to-be jobless may watch the acrobats of Cirque Magnifique perform.

Featuring "a high-energy acrobatic troupe, interactive snakes and Sponge Bob character appearances," the Space Center's event will allow the Space Center's future indigents to boost their connections to the cosmos.

The Space Center's Web site advertises the appearance of seven-foot-long boa constrictors. "Come hold some of these 'sleek amphibians,'" the Web site crows. Perhaps those 6th and 7th graders should lend NASA one of their science textbooks and pray that these deposed geniuses stop mixing up their genera.

Those interested in getting involved with "500 Prayer Requests" may send messages to 500prayers@gmail.com and participate in a special prayer-reading vigil 6 p.m. March 27 at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church.