Ogden InterfaithWorks event highlights diversity

By JaNae Francis
Standard-Examiner staff
18/11/2011

OGDEN — Before a diverse audience of believers of all types, including Christians and non-Christians, Bob Adams will present a unifying message of the cross Sunday at the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service sponsored by Ogden Interfaith Works.

The free, community celebration will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Your Community Connection, 2261 Adams Ave.

“The cross is a unifying image rather than a divisive image,” Adams said.

Adams, a parishioner at the Greek Orthodox Church of Ogden, said the image of the cross is one that is counterpoint to the devices used in the political scene these days.

“Religion and politics, two of the things you shouldn’t talk about in mixed company,” Adams said, joking about his presentation. His is just one of a dozen other presentations by leaders and members of area faith-based organizations as part of the celebration.

Adams said his presentation will lead up to an all-inclusive image of Christ.

“The final image is actually Christ on the cross as an embodiment of all man and all creation,” he said.

For several years, Ogden Interfaith Works has had an Interfaith Thanksgiving service on the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, said Nancy Groshart, an event organizer. Groshart also is a deacon at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Ogden.

She said the annual interfaith celebration started out small, with just a few faith communities involved, but has grown to include many more as well as more people attending the service.

“The YCC of Ogden has been a great venue for the service as they have a large room and can accommodate a large crowd,” she said.

For the last few years, an association with Jeanne Godfrey, who is a member of Interfaith Works and represents the American Mothers, has led to the current Ogden City American Mother and the Weber County American Mother providing treats and refreshments for this service.

“They do a wonderful job and it has been our good fortune to work with them,” Groshart said.

This year’s service will begin with an opening invocation by Lacee Harris, a Ute-Piute spiritual leader.

Groshart said Harris’ sacred narratives and deep appreciation for all creation and prayers offered to Mother Earth “always sets a beautiful tone for the rest of the evening.”

The evening will continue with variations of poems, chanting, remarks, or musical selections by those from many different traditions.

Also represented during the evening will be the Baha’i community, the Ogden Buddhist Temple, the Jewish congregation of B’rith Sholem, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, earth-centered spirituality, the First United Methodist Church, the Hindu community, the monks of Wat Dhammagunaram, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden.

The benediction will be by a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

“We celebrate the diversity present in our community, which many people are not aware of, and we joyfully come together in gratitude and thanksgiving for all of our many blessings,” Groshart said.

For sale at the event will be the 2012 Interfaith calendar, which is a fundraiser for Ogden Interfaith Works and distributed by Interfaith Marketplace.

This calendar is a work of art featuring a different artist every month and gives noted events for many faiths around the world, with a description of each faith at the end along with a summary of the various festivals of each faith. The calendar, called “Heart and Soul,” features among other things a quote by Mother Teresa under one of the photographs stating, “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”

“Please join us for this evening of gratitude where you will fill your hearts and enrich your souls,” Groshart said. “It is a perfect prelude to Thanksgiving Day and for gratitude all year long.”

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