Two months out Giving thanks with other faiths
than any kind of present-day [service] I’ve experienced,” Kirst said. “There are a wide variety of religious backgrounds sharing—and sharing food. It’s more authentic than what we can do with a Thanksgiving service.” Lakeview also serves a meal for more than 300 in the community on Thanksgiving Day.
“On Sunday afternoon, we gather with a variety of people from all walks PHOTODISC C
ome late November, gathering for worship or serving a com- munity meal are fairly typical ways for congregations to celebrate the secular Thanksgiving holiday. But two congregations have found interfaith relationships a rich way to celebrate their gratitude.
Some 200 people will fill the fel- lowship room of Lakeview Lutheran Church, Madison, Wis., the Sunday afternoon before the holiday for the Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration, which is in its sixth year. Lakeview hosts the Greater Madison Interre- ligious Association gathering partly because it has a huge room contain- ing no Christian symbolism, said Dean Kirst, pastor (pastordean@
lakeviewlutheranmail.org). Each year there is a keynote speaker (in recent years a Muslim, a Native American and a Quaker), followed by short presentations from various religious and cultural traditions on how they give thanks, including Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim, Baha’i, Native American, Wiccan, Christian, Unitarian, Jewish and Hindu. A dance for peace led by the Sufi concludes the presentations. A potluck of finger food, appetizers and desserts reflective of each tradition follows.
“This is more true to Thanksgiving Send congregational stories—both those for a specific month/holiday or your best timeless idea—to
julie.sevig@
thelutheran.org. 38 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
of life, and then we do what we’re called to do in our tradition by responding to the needs of our community with a meal on Thursday,” Kirst said. Because of the interfaith gathering, connections are made throughout the year. For instance, the Tibetan dancers use Lakeview’s building for rehearsal. “We see we’re not just living independently in faith traditions,” he said. Meredith Lovell Keseley, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Abiding Pres-
ence, Burke, Va., also notes the richness of celebrating Thanksgiving with another faith. For years, Temple B’nai Shalom, Fairfax Station, Va., used Abiding Pres-
ence’s space before finding their own building. Keseley said one of the stories about sharing space includes the rabbi carrying the Torah in her golf bag and a cross designed so it could easily be removed for Jewish worship. While sharing space, they worshiped together Thanksgiving Eve. But they’ve carried on the tradition, taking turns hosting. When Abiding Presence hosts, a rabbi preaches. When Temple B’nai Shalom hosts, Abiding Presence’s pastor preaches. The service includes prayers, Scripture, a few hymns “that work” with both faiths, and joint children’s and adult choirs, said Keseley (pastorkeseley@
me.com). More than 300 attend. “It doesn’t have an overly ‘churchy’ feel to it, so it’s a great service for
people to invite friends and family who may not have that much of a church background,” she said. “One of the reasons it works is that we have a shared history of a shared space.” M
Good one! Flower bud ministry
When Mary Fletcher and her group of Flower Buds approached Third Lutheran, Louisville, Ky., about using the fellowship hall and kitchen for flower storage and arranging, the con- gregation embraced the ministry and
got involved. Flower Buds picks up, arranges and delivers donated flow- ers to hospice patients and others who don’t normally receive flowers. “Our purpose is to bring comfort, joy and happiness to recipients and their families,” according to its mission statement.
Stories of gratitude abound, including one about an elderly hospice patient who took her last breath after receiving a vase of pink carnations from the Flower Buds. The woman’s daughter said her mother had always received pink carnations on special occasions from her husband, and that the delivery may have been a sign to let go and join him in heaven. To learn more, contact
3rdluth@bellsouth.net or 502-896-6383.
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