Like the opening line of a familiar Thanksgiving hymn, islanders will “gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing” in an interfaith service Nov. 25.
The gathering itself will demonstrate the many ways of achieving that end.
The importance of the event – said to be the first interfaith Thanksgiving service on the island in more than a decade – may be highlighted by the distribution of hate literature at the island’s south end earlier in the week by an off-island white-supremacist group.
“Particularly when these kinds of things happen, it’s more important than ever that people of different backgrounds and cultures and faiths join in the effort to build bridges of understanding through this service,” said Dick Goff, a member of the sponsoring organization, Bainbridge Island/ North Kitsap Interfaith Council.
Goff’s support of tolerance and interfaith understanding is echoed by Ross Boundy, IFC president and bishop of the island ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Said Boundy, “As we approach Thanksgiving, I am so grateful that we live in a community where we value diversity and we believe in a God of love – who must be terribly upset to see people judging each other by religion or race.
“We envision the service as an opportunity for people of many different faiths and backgrounds to join together in a spiritual celebration of thanks for many blessings we receive.”
The 18 faith groups contributing to the service include both island Jewish groups, Unitarians, Muslims, Baha’i, Quakers and several Christian denominations.
The means of worship will include prayers, readings, hymns, “sacred dance” and a meditation by Rev. Dan Sailer of Seabold United Methodist Church.
Both choral music and instrumental music will be featured, with sing-along hymns, the piano-guitar choir of St. Cecilia Catholic Church and the Grace Church Musicians.
Those familiar with standard Protestant hymnals may learn some new words, says Sue Anderson of First Church of Christ, Scientist.
The Christian Scientists, as they are popularly known, joined the IFC this fall, Anderson said, both to learn about other faith groups and educate more islanders about their own.
“Sometimes Christian Scientists are misunderstood, or viewed as ‘out of the mainstream,’” Anderson said.
“The thing I just love about this group (IFC) is that there is such mutual respect for each other, a real feeling of camaraderie and reaching out.”
Jonathan Azis, representing Baha’i of Bainbridge Island, will read a prayer exemplifying the Baha’i core belief that mankind is one family and that God is one.
“Worshippers lose sight, in ritual, dogma and theology, that religion’s main purpose is the transformation of man’s character,” said Olga Ruys, the Baha’i representative to IFC.
Not all will be making joyful noises. Island Quakers – recently upgraded from “worship group” to full-fledged meeting as Agate Passage Friends – will contribute silence, the defining characteristic of Quaker meetings, said Elizabeth Zwick of the Agate Passage Friends Meeting.
Remarks by Joanne Tews, executive director of Helpline House, will underscore the close links between celebrating the richness of religious and cultural differences and recognizing that one way to express thanks is to help others.
Goff notes that the IFC mission is outreach, with community members of different faiths and cultural backgrounds working together for good.
“We can be thankful,” he said, “that we join together to increase understanding and appreciation of each other.”
* * * * *
A community interfaith Thanksgiving service will be held 7 p.m. Nov. 25, at Grace Episcopal Church on Day Road East. Bring non-perishable foods or money to help support food programs of Helpline House and North Kitsap’s Fishline. After the service, enjoy conversation and refreshments supplied by the Special Needs Foundation. Child care is available for children age 4 and under. Call 842-3564 or 780-0835 for information.
