Faith leaders in Grand Rapids met for the Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration on Monday as Christian, Atheist, Bhai, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim peoples all gathered to give thanks, and pray for the country.
During the service, Imam Morsy Salem sang a passage from the Holy Koran. He later explained the scripture’s message.
“The message is that we will take care of our next generations to teach them how to love each other, and how to love one another, because we are all riding the same ship,” Salem said.
Rabbi Michael Schadick shared Salem’s sentiments, saying that in a time of political and racial division in the country, people must embrace others even if they don’t share the same beliefs.
“If we don’t worship together, and spend time together, and break bread together, our country needs all of us to be together, to meet each other and to share moments like this, otherwise, we’re sunk,” Schadick said.
Faye Richardson-Green gave the thanksgiving celebration’s keynote address. Representing the Catholic faith and Partners For-A Racism-Free Community, Richard-Green stressed that change comes from within.
“It essentially was about helping people to feel welcome and wanted, it also was a message that the key to helping others feel welcome and wanted is to take a look at ourselves, that it is not an easy task but it requires that we do self-examination and self-reflection, Green said .
The service entitled "Coming Together, Welcoming All" was held at the Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. Officials said it was the largest attendance in the Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration’s 17-year history.
