Interfaith Thanksgiving service marks 20 years
Families poured into Temple Chai in Long Grove Sunday night for what has become a holiday tradition: an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service that promotes acceptance and shared values, as much as it does giving thanks.
For 18 years, members of Jewish, Catholic and Protestant congregations in the Buffalo Grove and Long Grove areas have gathered on the Sunday before Thanksgiving to affirm their common beliefs.
“It's all about people coming together,” said Ron Stern of Arlington Heights, “regardless of religion, and taking care of each other and supporting one another.”
Jim and Barbara Bradley of Lincolnshire joined with many others in attendance, who brought canned goods for local food pantries, as part of the event's tradition.
“We like the idea of everybody gathering without worrying about race, nationality or creed,” Jim Bradley said. “It's a great concept.”
In all, nearly 800 people attended the service, including local politicians, such as Buffalo Grove Mayor Elliott Hartenstein, state Rep. Sidney Mathias, and Wheeling Elementary School District 21 board members Arlen Gould and Rich Rosen.
Yet, there were no speeches, and few comments even from the clergy. Instead, the service featured plenty of music, including choirs from the local congregations, and three video presentations on the Interfaith Council's history.
Worshippers stood for the opening procession and joined with the combined choirs to sing the hymn, “We Are Called.” Its refrain underscored the service's meaning, with the words: “We are called to act with justice. We are called to love tenderly. We are called to serve one another, and walk humbly with God.”
The ecumenical worship service was developed by officials with the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council, which this year celebrated its 2 years of fostering understanding and unity among different faiths.
Council members currently include clergy from eight area churches. They originally came together after anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered at Jewish temple in Buffalo Grove.
Since 1990, its member churches have worked together to host shared worship services, launch community service projects and promote inter-faith dialogue.
“While most people talk about tolerance, we talk about sensitivity and understanding that goes beyond tolerance,” said Jay Jayapalan, a member of Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove and president of the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council.
Jayapalan added that over the 20 years, council members have become more collaborative and are doing more things together than ever.
“People in the community are comfortable in one another's houses of worship,” he added.
Diane Popper, the founding president of the Interfaith Council, and one of the organizers behind the ecumenical Thanksgiving service, said she was thrilled that the event continues to draw hundreds of people together.
“There's been a real growth in the community,” Popper said. “We're definitely on a path toward continued sensitivity toward each other.”