One way to beat Thanksgiving stress is to take a little time out and reflect on your life by attending an interfaith service. While interdenominational refers to Protestant religions, interfaith includes a variety of religious traditions: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim to name a few. Interfaith services can connect you to a wider community, even if you do not currently have a faith community. Typical features of an interfaith Thanksgiving service are a choir composed of members from each participating congregation, food collections, and post-service informal gatherings. Go to the websites linked below or phone to learn more.
San Francisco
Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration Tuesday November 24th 7pm at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav 290 Dolores (at 16th Street).
Participants include First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, Sha'ar Zahav, Episcopal Church of St. John, the Zen Center, California Institute of Integral Studies, Metropolitan Community Church, Bay Area Jewish Healing Center, and First Mennonite of San Francisco. Come join in community! You're also welcome to bring a non-perishable, non-glass gift for the San Francisco Food Bank if you are able to contribute in this difficult economic time.
An Interfaith service of Thanksgiving Sponsored by the San Francisco Interfaith Council
Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009 10:00am -11:00am Calvary Presbyterian Church
2515 Fillmore St San Francisco, CA 94115-1300
Collection to benefit the SF Interfaith Winter Shelter.
Los Gatos
Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Tuesday November 24th, 2009, 7:30 pm, Location: Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, in Los Gatos.
The entire community is invited. Sponsoring Congregations include: Faith Lutheran Church (ELCA), St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Los Gatos United Methodist Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, The Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Los Gatos Ward, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos, the Baha'i Faith of Los Gatos, and Congregation Shir Hadash. A joint choir will be participating in the service. A collection of food will be taken for contribution to Second Harvest and a collection of funds for the work of the Sacred Heart Community Center for their Career Closet and Joblink programs. Coffee and cake will follow the service along with a time of conversation and fellowship.
Saratoga Community Thanksgiving Service Thursday, November 26, 2009, 10:00 am to noon Location: Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga 408-257-3333
Join together for an hour of music, prayer and devotion as we give thanks for our many blessings. All members of all faiths in our community welcome to join in this 44th annual Thanksgiving Day worship service. Following the service there will be an informal reception.
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Comments
Thanksgiving is a spiritual practice that is part of many religions the world over, and in America, Thanksgiving time is a wonderful time for those of many faiths to gather together. Yesterday was the fourth annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration in Madison, Wisconsin. More info is at the GMIA website and in the news of Wisconsin State Journal today. Thanks for your article. Happy Thanksgiving, Rev. Selena Fox, President, Greater Madison Interreligious Association (GMIA), & Senior Minister, Circle Sanctuary, Barneveld, Wisconsin.
Thank-you for your response. I have attended these services in recent years and wondered why I had not done so in the past. Even those who are not religious might find a spiritual connection at an interfaith event.
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