advertisement

Faiths unite to celebrate in Buffalo Grove

In the Buffalo Grove area, the Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration is just as much of a tradition as turkey and cranberry sauce.

The event, held by the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council, takes place at a different house of worship each year. St. Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove was the site of this year's celebration, which brings together worshipers of all faiths to celebrate each other's religions and give thanks.

But one couple in attendance was especially thankful: Bob and Allison Montgomery from Washington, Illinois, who lost their home in last year's devastating tornado.

The Montgomerys, who will be moving into their new home next week, came to worship with the Interfaith Council, which traveled this year to Washington to help out the victims.

Bob Montgomery said he and Allison have been staying in their other house in Peoria.

“It's been a long process, because we live on a farm. We have got approximately 75 acres, which is right next to the subdivision in Washington. A lot of what we have been doing is cleaning the field, cleaning the debris. We have hauled over a hundred tons off the field,” he said.

Of the Interfaith group, he said, “They were great. I mean we lived on volunteers all year as far as coming and helping. And they were persistent in coming down. And they just worked with us for two solid days, cleaning some of the worst field area that we had debris on.”

He said they also became friends.

Allison said, “They invited us to dinners. We had lunch with them.

“Our farm is directly across from where the tornado came out. So we had 800 homes splintered onto our field. “

Some of the speakers alluded to the trip during the service.

The Rev. Eric Schlichting of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Prospect Heights said it was a trip that came together with challenges.

“Walking this path was definitely a lesson in trusting God,” he said.

Arrangements fell through, opportunities for work seemed nonexistent, and the outlook seemed uncertain.

Even as the send off dinner was placed on the table, the group was still wrestling with the itinerary.

“Once we got on the bus, we knew our only choice was to trust God,” he said.

Rabbi Barry Cohen of Temple Chai in Long Grove said in Judaism there is a tribal “Exodus” impulse and a universalistic “Sinai” impulse. The question is how to achieve a balance.

“There is a risk of overemphasizing tribalism,” he said, but warned that one can overemphasize universalism.

The balance, he said, was found during the service trip to Washington.

“We picked debris from farmland, many of us on our hands and knees” to make a small patch of land usable, laboring in the hot sun.

As the service began, Father Dan Whiteside of St. Mary Parish greeted the audience.

“Though we come from varying faith traditions, we come together recognizing that we are all God's people.”

The remainder of the service was devoted to a mixture of songs, sermons and even puppets.

One of the songs, with some of the lyrics reworked, was “Happy,” by Pharrell Williams.

One member of the adult choir, Buffalo Grove resident Sue Jacobson, said the performance and the rehearsals have given her a chance to know people from other congregations.

Jacobson said, “Sitting together to learn music, you find there is a lot you have in common,” as the choir members talked about family and music.”

She also said the service was a chance to view the inside of the church, which she had never seen before.

Hours before the service was held, a lunch was given at Hope Lutheran Church in Long Grove for those who had trekked to Washington, said Buffalo Grove resident Rhonda Norman, who also took part.

The Montgomerys joined in the lunch.

Rhonda Norman said she took off work so she could attend the service.

“I got off work tonight to be there, because it's just so important,” she said.

Earlier this year, Rhonda, her husband Hal, daughter Stephanie and her boyfriend made the trip to Washington. Hal recalled loading his van with tools for the trip to Washington.

“It was one of the finest things I have done in my life,” he said.

Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.comCantor Roger Weisberg, left, of Congregation Beth Judea and Cantor Scott Simon of Temple Chai sing "Gonna Climb God's Mountain" during the Northwest Suburban's 24th annual interfaith celebration, held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Buffalo Grove Sunday evening.
  The combined children's choirs sing "I See You, God" during the Northwest Suburban's 24th annual interfaith celebration at St. Mary Catholic Church in Buffalo Grove Sunday evening. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.comRabbi Barry Cohen, left, of Temple Chai and Rev. Eric Schlichting of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd during the Northwest Suburban's 24th annual interfaith celebration, held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Buffalo Grove Sunday evening.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.