Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Brooksby Village

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, 150 Brooksby Village residents gathered in their chapel to give thanks for the wonderful spirit of interfaith and for the many blessings that they share.

The Unitarian-Universalists opened the ceremony with the lighting of the chalice and concluded it with the extinguishing of the chalice.

Since Jews, Catholics and Protestants use breads in their liturgical ceremonies, the interfaith theme for the day was “The Blessing of the Breads.” Cantor Colman Reaboi, the leader of the Jewish community, explained the biblical breads – matzo, manna and challah. At the conclusion of the service, the four ministers representing the Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Unitarian Universalist traditions commonly blessed the breads. Then they and some faith community leaders distributed the blessed breads to the congregation.

As part of the service, the Protestant pastor, Rev. Emily Chandler, homilized on “givingthanks”, her new verb for our English language. Sr. Nancy Rowen, SND, the pastoral leader for the Catholic community, offered the opening prayer. And Dr. Rich Byrne, the Pastoral Ministries Manager, led a responsorial litany of thanksgiving.

Besides the singing of interfaith hymns, the 35-member Protestant Choir sang a multi-part anthem, celebrating the blessings of God’s glorious creation.

What touched people the most was the openness of each to the faith traditions of their neighbors. As Rich Byrne explained in his welcoming remarks, the members of each faith community have worked together to deepen their knowledge and their belief. So, at these times they meet each other out of their strengths and their convictions. It is a wonderful moment of diversity, understanding and acceptance. And for this, they all gave thanks!

Dr. Rich Byrne, D.Min.

Pastoral Ministries Manager

Brooksby Village,

Peabody