Christian-Muslim-Hindu-Buddhist-Jewish Leaders Jointly Celebrated Thanksgiving

Carson City, NV….In a remarkable interfaith gesture; area Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish leaders joined together to celebrate multi-faith Thanksgiving at Connected Church of the Nazarene in Carson City on November 20.

The theme of this interfaith worship service was “Amends & Reconciliation”, and various religious leaders spoke around “making amends and working toward reconciliation”. “As we prepare for Thanksgiving and the holidays, leaders of our many faith communities are inviting the greater community to seek out the healing of divisions and to seek unity in the midst of diversity”, event announcement said.

Speakers included Jeremy John Tuttle, Lead Pastor of Connected Church of the Nazarene; Jeffrey Paul, Rector of Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church; Chad Adamik, Pastor at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Family; Evon J. Yakar, Rabbi of Temple Bat Yam in South Lake Tahoe and North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation in Tahoe Vista; Dennis Schreiner, Deacon at Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Community; T.J. Saputra from Carson City Muslim Community; Hindu statesman Rajan Zed; Susan Juetten of Dharma Zephyr Insight Meditation Community; Steep Weiss from First Church of Christ-Scientist; and Jack Smith from Temple Bat Yam.

Jess Bunes and Ben Schuler of Connected Church of the Nazarene gave rendition of Lauren Daigle’s “Come Alive (Dry Bones)” on the occasion.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism and who read prayers from ancient Hindu scriptures Rig-Veda and Upanishads on the occasion, says that a more inclusive and broader understanding of religion is needed and events like this help unite us as a community.

Thanksgiving, which traces its roots to Plymouth (Massachusetts) settlers in autumn 1621, is said to be an annual tradition in USA since 1863 and fell on November 22 this year. It is also observed in Canada, Grenada, Leiden (Netherlands) and Liberia.