Tis the season to give and be grateful, celebrate and rejoice. Interfaith Works invites members of the Thurston County community of every background to join together in the Abbey Church at Saint Martin’s University for an afternoon of singing and uplifting community solidarity. This year marks the 33rd Interfaith Thanksgiving celebration, which is performed at a different location each year.
On Sunday November 20 at 2:00 p.m. the Abbey will be lifted up with musical performances by The Olympia Peace Choir, The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation Choir and Saint Martin’s own Chorale. Traditionally the event is focused around interfaith readings from faith and community leaders but this year will be a little different. Readings from those leaders will still occur including opening remarks from Abbot Neal G. Roth but the focus will be on the musical component.
“The theme is songs of gratitude,” said Interfaith Works Program Coordinator Naki Stevens. “This year is going to be especially wonderful. In addition to the interfaith aspect, which is always moving to bring people of different faiths together, this year is going to be focused on choral music which is a little bit of a twist. It is basically just a very uplifting, joyous afternoon.”
“Every time I have held an event with the Chorale it has been special,” said Saint Martin’s University Director of Service Immersion Programs Susan Leyster. “They speak to the heart. They are uplifting. But there is also a bit of sadness due to thinking about those who we forget about, those who are marginalized and invisible.”
John Hopkins, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Diversity and Service Initiatives at Saint Martin’s University, believes interfaith events are essential to the overall education of students. “Faith is one of our core themes,” said Hopkins. “How do we ‘do’ faith? Every student has a religious identity whether it’s an explicit one or it’s being in the culture of religion. How do we get students to engage in deeper kinds of faith interactions? Interfaith is the strategy for us.”
Like a rising tide that raises all ships, John believes everyone involved with events focused on interfaith can gain insight. “All the while you remain exactly who you are,” Hopkins commented while thinking of past interfaith experiences he has participating in. “In fact the theory is that it makes you a better Catholic, a better Baptist, a better Mormon or a better Atheist. It’s not to turn you into a Buddhist or convert people to Catholicism. It’s to be able to sit in the same room, the same space, disagree on theological matters but as we are talking to each other that relationship is mutually productive.”
Leyster hopes visitors will pay attention to their surroundings while celebrating. “The Abby church is built in the shape of a Hebrew tent,” she said. “It’s gorgeous inside with natural lighting and stained glass. It’s all northwest materials. There is a sense of peace as you walk into the church. I’d like people to leave with a feeling of hope.”
When asked about the take away for those in attendance Naki said, “I hope people have more love in their hearts and more music in their souls.”
The celebration is scheduled to be one hour with time for informal fellowship and refreshments afterward.
Interfaith Thanksgiving
Sunday, November 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Saint Martin’s University Abbey
5000 Abbey Way SE in Lacey
