12th Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration
12th Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration
Hosted by Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration
Supported by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community-GA Chapter
This Thanksgiving why not enjoy the inspiration of a gathering where 100s of your neighbors bring their throughts, prayers, music and humor to express solidarity through our multiple faiths for the cause of true peace in our world.
We'd love to have you join us in person - there will be a reception to follow, you can also watch online with a live webcast.
Comment: An uplifting and moving service. Great food from many cultures after service. Chance to meet our neighbors.
The 12th annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration, an event put together by a variety of religious groups in the Marietta and Roswell areas, is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 17th in Marietta at 7 p.m.
“This year's event will focus on the welcoming spirit of the United States and will feature many stories about making positive changes in the lives of others,” said Bassem Fakhoury from the Roswell Community Masjid. “I think it’s a very timely and apt subject in light of the negative political rhetoric associated with the election cycle.”
The community is invited to attend this unique opportunity in joining 17 different local churches and other faith-based congregations in a celebration of life and unity. Come to learn about the various religions and find things in common with others.
“For me, meaningful interfaith partnership begins by learning about other faiths,” said Reverend Jeff Jones, a minister at the Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation. “It is out of our not knowing that people sometimes respond out of fear. And so by learning about other faiths, each of us becomes an ambassador of interfaith work and ministry in the community.”
The program will be filled with music, humor and reflections offered by some of the faiths. This will be followed by some reflections given by inspirational speakers representing Baha’i, Christianity, Earthkeepers (First Nation), Islam and Judaism.
“We are happy to open our doors to the community,” said Hal Schlenger, the event chairperson. “One of the good examples of Coexisting and learning is that you will hear the beautiful Islamic call of prayer sung from a Jewish synagogue’s pulpit. While we each pray a little differently, the purpose is the same.”
The Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration is an uplifting and often humorous program where those in attendance can also participate and be a part of something positive. During the reception after the program, there is a Wall of Words where anyone can write their thoughts, comments or feedback on a wall and share what moves them.
The theme this year is “The Ripple Effect: Together we create waves.”
“We hope the take away from this year’s program is being the change you want to see,” Schlenger said. “So as a community we can do that. The change we want is to see that our religious differences are relatively minor compared to the commonality we all share. This program becomes an opportunity for you to meet people of other faiths and realize they are pretty much the same as you are.”
Participating religions in this year’s Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration:
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Baha'i Faith of Marietta
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Earthkeepers, First Nation
East Cobb Islamic Center
East Cobb United Methodist Church
Emerson Universalist Unitarian
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
House of Hope
Masjid Al-Muminum
Roswell Community Masjid
Sikh Educational Welfare Association
Saint Catherine's Episcopal Church
Saint Benedict's Episcopal Church
Temple Kol Emeth
Transfiguration Catholic Church
Unity North Atlanta
Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016
Time: 7 PM - 9 PM
Venue: Temple Kol Emeth, 1415 Old Canton Rd NE, Marietta, GA 30062
Contact: 770-973-3533
