The Melrose Messenger

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Highlights Diversity and Commonalities in Melrose Faith Communities

On Sunday evening, faith leaders and members from several of Melrose’s faith communities met in Temple Beth Shalom for the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, which had been paused during COVID and has now returned for the third consecutive year.

Temple Beth Shalom was hosting this year, so the service was conducted as a Jewish service. Prayers were spoken and sung in both English and Hebrew, and representatives of four Christian churches stepped in to speak at various points during the service.

Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal of Temple Beth Shalom reflected on the diversity of viewpoints represented in those gathered. She noted that there is a diversity of viewpoints even within Judaism, from atheist or agnostic congregants who come for the community to people with very traditional beliefs. Accordingly, she said that she hoped attendees would see the diversity of viewpoints shared as a “sampler plate” of ideas about God and the world that they might choose from.

Each of the speakers reflected on gratitude in different ways, noting that gratitude can be helpful especially during difficult times in our lives.

Reverend Terron Tuckett of First Baptist Church focused his reflection on a passage from Nehemiah, where the people of Jerusalem give thanks after they rebuild the city’s wall. He noted that most cities in the ancient world had walls, so the celebration of completing this particular wall is a reminder to give thanks for even the most commonplace things in our lives.

Reverend Isaac Martinez of Trinity Episcopal Parish described how that morning, for Gratitude Sunday, the children in his church had learned about the Eucharist, a central part of Episcopal worship, and which comes from the Greek word for “thanksgiving.” He spoke about how even young children can understand gratitude through the ceremony of the Eucharist.

Reverend Chris Lyman Waldron of Melrose Highlands Congregational Church spoke about his wife’s practice of keeping a gratitude journal. He reflected that making a point of noticing the small things in your life that you are grateful for can make a difference in how you think about your life as a whole.

Bert Whittier, a member of First United Methodist Church, took on heavier subject matter in his reflection. He spoke about meeting Father Ignacio Martín-Baró in El Salvador in 1989, months before the Jesuit priest was murdered. Whittier reflected on Martín-Baró's work among the poorest people in El Salvador, and how the work of people like him can remind us that God is present in even the most challenging times.

Members of the Temple Beth Shalom choir led the congregation in singing Hine Ma Tov (translated into English: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for people to dwell together in unity!) The service concluded with singing Olam Chesed Yibaneh (I will build this world from love).

This year's Interfaith Thanksgiving Service provided Melrosians of different faiths with the opportunity to share their beliefs and practices with one another. While the way people worship and experience religious community together may vary, coming together to express gratitude for the good things in our lives is a powerful reminder of all the commonalities that tie us together.

Posted November 25th, 2024