A very special service encompassing and celebrating many faiths from all around the world will take place on Tuesday, November 24th at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Sponsored by the Greater Santa Barbara Area Clergy Association, this annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service reflects the variety of faith communities and allows many from a wide spectrum of religious affiliations to gather together and share in giving thanks together. The Greater Santa Barbara Area Clergy Association includes clergy and religious leaders from over 100 local faith communities. Elements in the service will be represented by Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Universalist, and Catholic and Protestant traditions.
This year’s guest speaker will be Rabbi Steve Cohen who is part of the Temple staff of Congregation B’nai B’rith in Santa Barbara. Rabbi Cohen will speak on “These and These are the Words of the Living God: Disagreement for the Sake of Heaven”. Rabbi Cohen will share some insights from Jewish tradition into the age-old but still current problem of how to listen to and live with those with whom we disagree. How do we prevent our passionately held convictions from making us our neighbor's enemy?
Rabbi Steve Cohen came to serve as the rabbi of Congregation B’nai B’rith in 2004, after nineteen years as the rabbi and Executive Director of the Hillel Foundation at UC Santa Barbara. A native of Rochester, New York, Rabbi Cohen received his undergraduate degree in American History from Harvard University in and Rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He and his wife Marian have two children, Rachel and Ari.
The Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will feature an Interfaith Choir. In order to allow participation from the greatest number of faith traditions, all worship music in the service will be sung without instrumental accompaniment. This year the optional offering will go to CALM (Child Abuse Listening and Mediation). A light reception will follow the service.
The community is invited to join in this inspiring and meaningful celebration! The First United Methodist Church is located at 305 E. Anapamu Street at Garden Street. Parking is available behind the church with the parking entrance off Garden Street. For more information call 963-3579 or visit the website www.fumcsb.org.
