Interfaith service links hearts

Christians, Muslims, Jews, others share spirit of love

Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, November 24, 2006

As violence and tension continued unchecked in the Middle East on Thanksgiving morning, Muslims, Christians, Jews and the non-religious put away their newspapers, turned off their televisions and shared a peaceful, common ground at a gathering in Denver.

For the 300 visitors and parishioners attending the Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Park Hill, the annual Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service was like a breath of fresh air amid the bloodshed of the Middle East.

"This helps bring people together and move people into the peace camp," said Michael Stipek, who attended the service with his wife, Peg Clover Stipek. It was the couple's first interfaith service, but they vowed it won't be their last.

"The more people in the peace camp, the less on the other side," Stipek said.

The different faiths didn't have trouble bridging any gap: Muslim clergy helped lead the service for the first time in the event's century-old tradition, and they did so inside the grand Presbyterian church.

Daily morning prayer services at mosques prevented the Muslim community from hosting the celebration.

The Buddhists are expected to host the interfaith service next year.

Imam Abdul-Rahim Ali, of the North East Denver Islamic Center, led the call to prayer before the procession of 11 Christian ministers, Islamic imams, Buddhist monks and Jewish rabbis.

"I bear witness that Muhammed is a messenger of God . . . " the imam chanted in Arabic and English.

The Rev. Cynthia Cearley told the audience: "Be at peace, be glad, be full of joy at Thanksgiving. You are most welcomed here."

Eight Muslim children from the Crescent View Academy charter school sang and recited a nash'eed, an Islamic hymn offering praise to Allah.

At the offering, the parishioners and congregation gave monetary donations to help the Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism, or MILA, a charity that provides services and educational programs to members of the Muslim community.

Imam Ibrahim Kazerooni, who leads an interfaith organization, the Abrahamic Initiative, led the prayer of Thanksgiving.

Kazerooni: "For this gathered community that welcomes us as we are from wherever we have come."

The congregation responded: "For our religious communities that keep us human and encourage us in our quest for justice, peace and love."

Kazerooni: "For all things which come to us as gifts of being from sources beyond ourselves."

The congregation: "Gifts of life and love and friendship - we lift up our hearts in thanks this day."

Cearley offered the homily, summing up why people came together at the Park Hill church on Thursday morning, but pointing out why conflict exists.

"There is joy in our coming together (Thursday) and that is cause for thanksgiving," the reverend said.

"I pray that, in part, we gather because we believe there is more that is common among us, than what divides us. We come because, in our desperately divided world, we want to witness that there is another way. A way of coming together, being together, living together that honors diversity, holds tensions in love and seeks common ground. It sounds great doesn't it? Who could argue with such right and righteous causes?"