Interfaith Thanksgiving service 2020 Program

Let us give thanks... A service of gratitude for all faiths Sunday, November 22, 2020, 3:00 p.m. Hosted Virtually by the Congregation B'nai Jeshurun (South Street Temple) Rabbi Alex Felch Lincoln, NE With music provided by the Star City Kochavim Dr. Steven Kaup, Director

1 Welcome and Opening Prayer Rabbi Alex Felch, Rabbi of the Lincoln Jewish Community Song: For the Beauty of the Earth Dr. Vena Alesio, vocalist; Dr. Charles W. Ore, organist First Presbyterian Church 1. For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies: Refrain: God of all, to thee we raise this our song of grateful praise. 2. For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light: (Refrain) 3. For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight, for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight: (Refrain) A Welcome from the Faith Coalition of Lancaster County Rev. Oscar Sinclair, President A Reading from the Islamic Faith Farida Ebrahim, Muslim Faith “O you who believe! Eat of the good things We have provided you and give thanks to God if it is He Whom you worship“ (Holy Quran 2:172). Gratitude is profoundly ingrained in thought as well as in practice of the devout. In Islam, it is a form of worship which leads to finding one’s most beautiful soul--God conscious and full of grace. All praise is due to God Almighty alone, as the Holy Quran states ‘’Truly We created human in the most beautiful stature,’’ (Holy Quran 95:4). Gratitude is a virtue which transforms lives in many ways for “Truly, God loves the virtuous” (Holy Quran 2:195).

2 Recognizing the good is in itself a blessing. Being thankful is a bliss impervious to change or adversity. It is one of the most loved acts by God Almighty. Gratitude, generosity, compassion, and humility are a few of the wonderful traits that lift a person up towards the perfection of faith. Expression of gratitude begins in the heart, on the lips, and in our actions--it is a marvelous thing, an overflow of deep appreciation for God Almighty’s favors. Words of Unity from the Rig Veda Madhavi Bhadbhade, Hindu Faith Let us be united; Let us speak in harmony; Let our minds apprehend alike. Common be our prayer, Common be the end of our assembly; Common be our resolution; Common be our deliberations. Alike be our feelings; Unified be our hearts; Common be our intentions; Perfect be our unity. Prayers for Protection and Peace From the Upanishads Roli Saraf, Hindu Faith Let us together be protected and let us together be nourished by God’s blessings. Let us together join our mental forces in strength for the benefit of humanity. Let our efforts at learning be luminous and filled with joy, and endowed with the force of purpose. Let us never be poisoned with the seeds of hatred for anyone. Let there be peace and serenity in all three universes. From ignorance, lead me to truth. From darkness, lead me to light. From death, lead me to immortality. Om peace, peace, peace!

3 A reading from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Larry W. Van Tassell, President, Lincoln Nebraska Stake Our kind and gracious Father in Heaven. We are grateful for the religious freedoms that allow us to gather together this day as a coalition of faiths to offer our creator gratitude and thanks in our individual ways. We are thankful that thou hast taught us to be grateful to thee, Father, for all things. In the words of the Psalmist, “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalms 106:1). In the words of the Apostle Paul, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thes. 5:18). In the words of the prophet Alma, “When thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God” (Alma 37:37). And in modern revelation, “…he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold” (D&C 78:19). First and foremost, Father, we are thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ, for His atoning sacrifice and His plan of happiness. We are grateful for thy commandments; that they are directions to avoid pitfalls, and that they are invitations to blessings. (Dallin H. Oaks) We are grateful for those who lift us up by being positive and grateful in their lives. We give thanks that we live in a community where a great deal of tolerance exists, where strangers lend a helping hand, and where diversity creates a greater whole. Thank you, Father, for those in this community who, with a spirit of cooperation and love, work to care for those less fortunate. We are grateful for the year 2020, for the kindness that has been shown by so many amidst our many trials. For the privilege we have had to learn, again, the simple blessings that we enjoy daily. May we understand that thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. That gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. And that while thankfulness may consist merely of words, gratitude is shown in acts. (David O McKay) This we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

4 Song: Friends (Amigos) Nigun traditional Star City Kochavim, South Street Temple A Reading & Prayer from the Eastern Orthodox Christian Faith Bishop Michael Melchizedek, Sts. Simon & Jude Eastern Orthodox Church Psalm 147:7-9 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises to our God on the lyre, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food And to the young ravens that cry. Ephesians 5:19-20 Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our God. Matthew 15:36 Then Jesus took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. A Prayer Of Thanksgiving (adapted from St. Basil the Great) O Master, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation both visible and invisible, Who sittest upon the throne of glory, Who art unoriginate, invisible, immutable, our hope, life, sanctification and power. Fill us with Thine immeasurable mercies and love, do Thou receive the unfeigned praise and thanksgiving of our unworthy hearts for all that Thou hast provided for us in this world and the next; and enable us to walk before Thee in holiness and purity all days of our life in fitting gratitude for Thy loving-kindness to us. Amen. A Prayer from the Baha’i Faith Brian Lepard, Baha’i Faith My God, my Adored One, my King, my Desire! What tongue can voice my thanks to Thee? I was heedless, Thou didst awaken me. I had turned back from Thee, Thou didst graciously aid me to turn towards Thee. I was as one dead, Thou didst quicken me with the water of life. I was withered, Thou didst revive me with the heavenly stream of Thine utterance which hath flowed forth from the Pen of the All-Merciful.

5 O Divine Providence! All existence is begotten by Thy bounty; deprive it not of the waters of Thy generosity, neither do Thou withhold it from the ocean of Thy mercy. I beseech Thee to aid and assist me at all times and under all conditions, and seek from the heaven of Thy grace Thine ancient favor. Thou art, in truth, the Lord of bounty, and the Sovereign of the kingdom of eternity. Bahá’u’lláh Prayers from the Siddur, the Jewish Prayer Book Rabbi Alex Felch, Rabbi of the Lincoln Jewish Community I am grateful to You, living, enduring Sovereign, for restoring my soul to me in compassion. You are faithful beyond measure. We proclaim that You are Adonai our God, and God of our ancestors throughout all time. You are the Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation in every generation. We thank You and praise You for our lives that are in your hand, for our souls that are in your charge, for Your miracles that daily attend us, and for Your wonders and gifts that accompany us, evening, morning, and noon. You are good, Your mercy is everlasting; You are compassionate, Your kindness never-ending. We have always placed our hope in You. Song: L’dor Vador Josh Nelson Star City Kochavim, South Street Temple A Pilgrim’s Journey Dr. Courtney Bruntz Assistant Professor of Asian Studies, Doane University A Closing Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev. Kirstie Jeanette Engel, First United Methodist Church Closing Benediction Rabbi Alex Felch, Rabbi of the Lincoln Jewish Community

6 Closing Song: Shalom, Salaam Star City Kochavim, South Street Temple Salaam, Shalom, Shantih, Paz, Paix, Peace Participants include . . . Madhavi Bhadbhade Hindu Dr. Courtney Bruntz Doane University Farida Ebrahim Muslim Rev. Kirstie Jeanette Engel First United Methodist Church Rabbi Alex Felch Rabbi of the Lincoln Jewish Community Congregation B'nai Jeshurun (South Street Temple) & Congregation Tifereth Israel Brian Lepard Baha’i Bishop Michael Melchizedek Sts. Simon & Jude Eastern Orthodox Church Roli Saraf Hindu Rev. Oscar Sinclair Unitarian Church of Lincoln President, Faith Coalition of Lancaster County Larry W. Van Tassell The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Stake President

7 Special Thanks To: Arthur I. Zygielbaum, video editor from the South Street Temple And all the Staff at the South Street Temple: Rabbi Alex Felch Dr. Steven Kaup, Director of the Star City Kochavim Peter Mullin, office administrator and members of the Star City Kochavim Thank you all! Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Planning Committee: Rev. Sue Coller, Farida Ebrahim, Rabbi Alex Felch, Rev. Amanda Gott, Rev. Stephen Griffith, Rev. Karen Moritz, Brian Pfoltner, Anne Rickover, Rev. Oscar Sinclair As we express our gratitude today for life's many blessings, we also want to convey our thankfulness for our health care workers and first responders who take seriously improving the quality of life for all of Lincoln's residents. Thank you!