SENNETT - People from diverse perspectives converged at Temple B'Nai Israel Tuesday night to thank God at the Cayuga County Area Inter-Faith Ministries Thanksgiving service. The service, which originated at Willard Chapel after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, is now in its third year at the temple.

“We are all aware of the challenges that lie ahead for us in our country,” Herb Sussman, executive director of Congregation B'Nai Israel, told the 50 people attending. “We have many things to be thankful for.”

“Given the turmoil this year,” said Deacon John D. Tomandl, chaplain at Auburn Memorial Hospital and at Auburn Correctional Facility, “I decided perhaps the proclamation of Abraham Lincoln that first secured Thanksgiving would be somewhat appropriate.”

Lincoln's proclamation, written in October 1863, established “the last Thursday of November ... as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Lincoln referred to the “lamentable civil strife” of the Civil War and asked Americans to “implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it ... to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”

Rev. LeRoy Kettinger led the hymn “All People That on Earth Do Dwell,” while Sherj DeSantis played meditative harp music between readings.

“Welcome to my very egalitarian house of worship,” said Elaine Cohen, Hebrew teacher at Congregation B'Nai Israel.

She chose “The Creation of the World” to read: “There was nothing. There was chaos ... There was an explosion ... And then God in his infinite joy created the world.”

The Rev. Richelle Duchano, of Auburn First United Methodist Church, read from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians 4:4-9, a Christian perspective: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say rejoice with thanks and let your requests be made known to God ... The God of Peace will be with you.”

“May God's peace be with you,” Imam Abdur-Rahim Muhammad of the Muslim Faith Community said, repeating in Arabic. “This is a very historic time. We are thankful to represent the religion of Islam.”

He then introduced Roberta Carter, of Auburn, studying the Qur'an for less than a year.

“B'ism Allah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim,” she said, “In the Name of God Most Gracious, Most Merciful.”

Imam Ab-dur Rahim Mohammed explained passages from Ch.2 v.62, which speak to the relationship of Muslims and Christians and Muslims and Jews.

“Allah is translated into God, the One who created everything,” he said. “Anyone who believes in Allah shall have no fear upon them or no grief.”

Bonnie Hazel Shoultz, of the Zen Center, Syracuse, presented the Buddhist “Giving Thanks.”

“In Buddhism, compassion and gratitude pervade everything that we practice,” she said. “Lowering our heads before the unnameable, we bow our heads .... May our bow prevail and may the feeling of thankfulness be with us always. May we extend this mind over the universe.”

The Rev. LeRoy Kettinger read expressions of thanks written on cards by those attending. “For all that has been given and all that was withheld, we give thanks.”

“For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty and justice; for the various communities and communions into which we have been called, and for all our life together,” Stan Sears of the Universalist Unitarian Community said in a litany, “Give thanks to the Lord who is good, whose love endures forever.”

The Rev. Frank Lioi, pastor of St. Mary's, in Auburn, led the final hymn. “Now Thank We All Our God,” and those attending left in peace.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net