Reflections on an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service by Charlie Curry, MnMN Board Member and Financial Officer
In the summer of 2023, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein, of St. Paul’s Temple of Aaron, had an idea. Why not hold an interfaith service of gratitude and thanksgiving close to Thanksgiving Day? On November 20th, In collaboration with Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul and the Minnesota Interfaith Network, the idea became reality.
A dozen different faith traditions offered “varied and splendid ways” of celebrating diversity and gratitude with chant, song, music, dance, prayer, spoken word and poetry to a gathering of several hundred people. Traditions represented included Judaism, liturgical and non-liturgical Christianity, Baha’i, Islam, and Buddhism. Rabbi Rubenstein, in his remarks, pointed out that the closest word to gratitude or thanks in Hebrew is “acknowledge.”
That evening, we acknowledged each other’s deep tradition, and in grateful reflection, acknowledged that the connectedness and relationships we build across our various ways of being are an essential component as we navigate through these turbulent times.
Over coffee and cookies when the service ended, many stayed to talk with each other – many just meeting that evening. Hope was expressed that this event become an annual gathering so that deep relationships may develop and grow.
