Annual interfaith service brings together wide swath of faiths with songs and prayers on Thanksgiving eve

Members of Bristol's many faith traditions gather at St. Joseph Church for the annual Bristol Interfaith Coalition's Thanksgiving service Wednesday evening. | David Fortier

Posted By: David Fortier November 24, 2023

The Muslim call to prayer, Jewish and Christian prayers, petitions for peace were among the offerings at this year’s Bristol Interfaith Coalition’s annual interfaith Thanksgiving service, which was held at St. Joseph Church this year on Wednesday evening.

In addition a collection taken up for the Prudence Crandall Center raised $636 and six bags of supplies.

Music was under the direction of Bill Degan, music coordinator for the First Congregational Church. Degan also played the organ as did Jean Degan, former music director for St. Joseph Church.

The combined bell choirs from Prospect United Methodist, St. Joseph and First Congregational churches performed, as did the combined adult choirs of the former churches along with Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation.

Upper, combined bell choirs perform at the annual Bristol Interfaith Coalition’s Thanksgiving service Wednesday evening. Middle, combined choirs perform at the annual Thanksgiving service held this year at St. Joseph Church. Lower, Mohammed Aziz, of the Bristol Bangladeshi community, presents the Muslim call to prayer while Laura Minor provides a translation. | David Fortier

Mohammed Aziz, representing the Bristol Bangladeshi Community, sang the supplication and call to prayer from the Muslim tradition, while Laura Minor read a translation in English.

Jeff Israel, of Temple Sinai from Newington, included prayers from the Jewish tradition in a short address, while Frank Robinson, shared prayers and quotes from the Baha’i tradition.

Joe Bartok, of St. Matthews-St. Gregory the Great Parish, read from the Roman Catholic tradition, Patty Bentley of AME Zion Church read a Christian Prayer from the African-American tradition, and the Rev. Laura Dodge of the Church of Eternal Light led the unison prayer of Thanksgiving.

Fr. John Mariano, representing St. Joseph Church, welcomed participants. Nighthawk Flying, medicine man of Four Tribal Nations, opened the evening after the welcome from Mariano and a musical prelude, “O God, I Thank You” by J.S. Bach, performed by the combined bell choirs.

Barbara Damon, president and CEO of the Prudence Crandall Center presented, “An Invitation to Share Our Gifts,” followed by the collection. Pastor Yongyeun Lee of Prospect United Methodist Church provided the final blessing.

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