Interfaith services for Thanksgiving

November 9, 11:22 AMSan Jose Interfaith ExaminerD. Andrew Kille

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AP Photo/ Dean Fosdick

Thanksgiving Day is perhaps the oldest interfaith celebration in the U.S. For many years it has provided an occasion for people of diverse religious traditions to gather together. I believe, for example, that the Community Thanksgiving service in Saratoga is marking its 44th year.

Thankfulness is a value that seems to be common to many, if not most, religions. We may be thankful for different things; we may send out thankfulness in different directions, but there is something deep in the human soul that leads us to pause and be grateful for life and what it brings.

One on whom We bestow kindness
But will not express gratitude,
Is worse than a robber
Who carries away our belongings.
Yoruba proverb

The worthy person is grateful and mindful of benefits done to him.
Buddhism. Anguttara Nikaya i.61

Abraham said, "Surely it is of what belongs to God that you have eaten. So praise and bless Him by whose word the world was created."
Judaism, Talmud, Sota 10b

Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is Him that you worship.
Islam, Qur'an 2.172

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
Cicero

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.
Christianity, Meister Eckhart

Gratitude is the most potent magick!
Starhawk, Wicca

Some local community Thanksgiving services:

• Los Gatos Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
  Date: Tuesday November 24th, 2009, 7:30 pm
  Location: Congregation Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos
  Sponsoring Congregations include: Faith Lutheran Church (ELCA) , St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Los Gatos United Methodist Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, The Presbytarian 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
  Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 10:00 am
  Location: Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga
  Join us on Thanksgiving Day as we worship together as a community. We will join together for an hour of music, prayer and devotion as we give thanks for our many blessings. We welcome all members of all faiths in our community to join together in our 44th annual Thanksgiving Day worship service. Following the service we will hold an informal reception of mingling and food. (See photos from last year's service at Saratoga Serves).
• Let us publicize your Thanksgiving service. Send details to Calendar at Interfaith Space.