(Our guest blogger is Rev. Denise Johnson)
For over 20 years I have served as one of our church representatives to the New Trier Multifaith Alliance. Originally known as the Winnetka Interfaith Council, the name changed several years ago to reflect inclusion of faith communities beyond the Winnetka borders. These communities have ebbed and flowed but have represented Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Bahá’í, Unitarian, Mormon, and Muslim traditions.
Begun in the 1960’s, this group sought to engender interfaith dialogue and cooperation, sponsoring community events on topics such as mental health, immigration, views of the sacred texts, and others. The capstone event is the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service offered to the community. Over the years our church has hosted several of these services as well as yearly participation from choir members. This year’s Thanksgiving Service will be on Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints in Wilmette. All are welcome.
In August the group presented at the Parliament of the World Religions held here in Chicago. This world-wide gathering, attended by representatives from scores of religious beliefs, meets every few years and rotates among the continents. Chicago hosted the first conference in 1893. Even though we were scheduled for the final day, we had good attendance from groups seeking similar interfaith dialogue in their communities. Those who attended the opening ceremonies were moved by the spirit of unity and common purpose shared from all corners of the globe.
Coming off this inspiring conference, the recent events in the Middle East that have shaken us all are especially distressing. Following is a statement offered on behalf of the New Trier Multifaith Alliance to address the feeling of many in these trying days.
October 13, 2023 – NTMA Statement on Recent Events in Israel and Gaza
Together with people of good will everywhere, the New Trier Multifaith Alliance (NTMA) expresses dismay and profound sorrow over the carnage and destruction that has spread across Israel and Gaza. With heavy hearts, we extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. We join communities of Faith–in our region and around the world–in condemning the disregard for fellow humans shown in the senseless acts of brutality committed by terrorists. We abhor every act of violence engendered by hatred and prejudice. We join civilized people of all religious persuasions in declaring that terrorism can never, for any reason, be justified.
We grow daily more concerned about the bloodshed and suffering among civilian populations on both sides of the conflict. It is our fervent hope that all parties will resolve to establish lasting peace and justice for all residents of a land sacred to them and to millions across the globe.
We ask our members to encourage respectful dialogue within and among our communities and to be reminded that sometimes misinformation is shared in social or mass media that is meant to divide us.
Peace be upon us all.
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