Interfaith Thanksgiving Service goes virtual, but is no less spirited

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The Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, a decades-old tradition, went digital this year, giving Glen Cove’s faith leaders, elected officials and residents a new perspective on what they are thankful for after a year full of challenges.

“We’ve all had plenty of thorns in our lives, with the stuff we see on television, what we read in the newspaper, what happens in our communities, stuff that happens in our personal lives,” said U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Glen Cove resident. “We all have thorns in our lives. But this Thanksgiving, lets really celebrate the roses in life, the things we’re grateful for.”

Rabbi Janet Liss, of North Country Reform Temple, hosted the service, which was held on Zoom. The Rev. Lance Hurst, of First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove; the Rev. Tommy Lanham, of Glen Cove Christian Church; and the Rev. Roger Williams, of First Baptist Church of Glen Cove, also took part, leading their virtual congregants in prayers and songs.

Among the readings were “America’s Table,” a prayer written by Ken Schept and published by the American Jewish Committee (see box), and “A Thanksgiving Prayer,” by Rabbi Naomi Levy. More than 70 participants listened to songs about healing, hope and togetherness, including “How Good and How Pleasant it is that We are All Together,” from Psalm 133; “This Land is Your Land,” by Woody Guthrie; and “What a Wonderful World,” performed by Louis Armstrong.

“I think we can all agree that 2020 has been quite a strange year,” said Hurst. “I can still remember the relief I actually did feel in the middle of March, when I thought I was going to be able to work from home for a couple of weeks. I didn’t realize, though, that this pandemic would be what it is.”

Hurst went on to say that he did not expect to be preparing for Thanksgiving as Covid-19 continued to spread — or to be preaching at the interfaith service, having just joined First Presbyterian Church on Nov. 1.

“While I don’t think there’s any need for us to be grateful for a pandemic,” he said, “I do believe that stepping out of the ordinary does give us a chance to reconnect.”

Hurst led participants through a meditation focused on healing and connection, which was followed by a video of the Israeli youth choir Hazamir Hasharon performing “Heal Us Now.”

“It’s in Hebrew and in English, but if you listen to the words, it’s praying for us, it’s praying for all people, it’s praying for our country, it’s praying for the world,” Liss said. “All of us are experiencing loss now. Since March, our world is not the world that we’ve known, and it’s not what we want it to be. This Thanksgiving is not going to be what any of us wants it to be.”

State Assemblyman Charles Lavine called the service inspirational and strengthening, as people prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving in small gatherings, or even alone, to protect loved ones.

“As opposed to every Thanksgiving, sacrifice and selflessness are what I think of as we gather,” Lavine said. “And those, of course, are the two core elements of faith, and how fitting that the faith-based community has put this wonderful event together.”

Glen Cove Mayor Tim Tenke said he also enjoyed this inclusive display, which represents Glen Cove as a community.

City Councilwoman Marsha Silverman said, “This time of year, I think we all reflect on what we’re grateful for, and this year it’s so simple — friends, family and good health. One thing that I think about often in Glen Cove and our surrounding area is our diversity. I counted nine or 10 faith leaders on this call, and the fact that we can all get together, regardless of our backgrounds, our beliefs, we have much more in common then we have in differences.”

Liss’s wife, Grace Blank, said that when she and Liss came to Glen Cove over 25 years ago, she never could have imagined the feeling of love and connection and the sense of belonging she would feel in the community. “We would love to see you in person — maybe next year, God willing,” Blank said.

“I am so happy to have been able to listen in on this program this evening,” said Sheryl Goodine, a deacon at First Baptist Church of Glen Cove. “It is truly a blessing as we go into this season of giving.”

Then she asked those on the call to spread the word to those who were not. “We always say in Glen Cove that we celebrate our diversity, we are inclusive,” Goodine said. “Well, let’s live it and, by example, show others what can be done. We live in a wonderful country, but there’s a lot of healing that needs to be done.”