Southbury Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
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Before the service, the clergy in town gathered in the atrium for a few freindly words, and some final organizational plans. Here are Fr. Curtis of Epiphany Episcopal, Pastor McGee of St. James Lutheran, Rev. Welty of the Community Chapel, Rabbi Polokof of B'nai Israel, Fr. Joe of Sacred Heart and Rev. Pitman (Behind Fr. Joe) of UCC.
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Rev. Pitman, pastor of the United Church of Christ in Southbury offered thanks for being back in Sacred Heart after a long absence, and a prayer for all.
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Fr. Joe was the principal speaker at the service, remembering all that we have to be thankful for. And as important, all that we are expected to do as a result of our faith calling us to help others.
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Rev. Welty of the Southbury Community Chapel helped close the formal portion of the service by leading the assembled faithful in praying a Native American Prayer of Thanksgiving. The prayer can be seen at the end of this page.
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And our closing musical selection was provided by some of the members of Nefesh from B'nai Israel. May the One who causes peace to reign in the high heavens let peace decend on us, on all Israel and all the world.
Amen
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After the service, Rabbi Polokof discusses the evening with a member of Nefesh.
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And Rev. Pitman of UCC has some conversation with another Nefesh member.
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And what would a service like this be without some fellowship and food at the end. Fr. Joe of Sacred Heart in conversation with a couple of members of his parish.
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Native American Prayer of Thanksgiving
O Divine Gift-giver, I stand beneath the endless waterfall of your abundant gifts to me.
I thank you especially for the blessing of life, the most precious of all your gifts to me.
I thank you, Ever-generous One, for clothing to wear, for food and drink to nourish me body,
for all the talents and skills that you have bestowed upon me.
I thank you for the many joys of my life, for family and friends,
for work that gives to me a sense of purpose and invests my life with meaning.
I thank you as well for the sufferings and trials of my life, which are also gifts and which together with my mistakes are among my most important teachers.
Grant that I may never greet a new day without the awareness of some gift for which to give you thanks.
And may constant thanksgiving be my song of perpetual praise to you.
Amen.
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Select here to return to the Atrium Page
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