Town Gathers for Interfaith Service

Residents filled the sanctuary at St. Matthew’s Monday night as the Palisades Ministerial Association held its annual Interfaith Community Service of Thanksgiving. Rev. David Miller welcomed everyone to the parish of Saint Matthew and was followed by David Carter of the Thirty-Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist, who read the Presidential Proclamation for Thanksgiving 2005. Rev. Frank Desiderio of Corpus Christi Catholic Church led a reading of Psalm 67, Rev. Julie Bryant of St. Matthew’s read Isaiah 58:2-7, and Rev. John Nagel, interim pastor at the Community United Methodist Church, gave a prayer of Thanksgiving. Brother Armananda of the Self-Realization Fellowship announced the offering. Rabbi Steve Carr Reuben, whose Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Synagogue hosted last year’s service, delivered the homily. He urged his audience to “develop an attitude of gratitude for this gift of life” here in Pacific Palisades, and to “open our hearts and share our bounty” with those who are less fortunate. Dwight Stone, Director of Music at the Methodist Church, led a 35-member interfaith choir in a choral anthem by Kirby Shaw, “Make a Joyful Noise,” and Thomas Neenan, Director of Music at St. Matthew’s, led “O How Amiable” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The organist was Roger Daggy of St. Matthew’s. The clergy brought the evening to an appropriate end by gathering together on stage and reading an adaptation of “A Prayer for Unity,” by Rabbi Jack Riemer.