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Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service in Brewster Draws Hundreds
Hundreds of residents of all faiths from Brewster, Patterson, Carmel and beyond congregated at Temple Beth Elohim in Brewster Tuesday night for an Interfaith Ecumenical Thanksgiving service sponsored by the Brewster Clergy.
It was standing room only for families of all beliefs when Rabbi Solomon B. Acrish welcomed clergy and congregants from eight area houses of worship including First United Methodist Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, Eglisio de la Pentacostas, Gilead Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Brewster Presbyterian Church, Drew United Methodist Church and Mount Carmel Baptist Church.
"During a time of such conflict and turmoil in the world, it is wonderful and comforting for us all to come together to pray and give thanks as a community for our many blessings," said Rabbi Acrish.
Bathed in the warmth of Temple Beth Elohim's beautiful new sanctuary, the hour-long service was comprised of an inclusive collection of readings by Reverends Kwang-il Kim, Felipe Portillo, Martin McGeachy, Terry Heuduk, Hans Hallundbaek, and Keith Beverly and Pastor Kathleen Koran. The evening kicked off with all in attendance singing "America the Beautiful," and the sanctuary remained filled with music and song performed in English, Hebrew and Latin by participating adult and children's choirs from Temple Beth Elohim, First United Methodist Church, and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church as well as soloists Robin Sills (Temple Beth Elohim) and Arline Hay-O'Brien (Drew United Methodist Church). The service concluded with a singalong for all. Then, all in attendance assembled in the Temple's social hall to break bread together.
Temple Beth Elohim's longtime congregant Sam Ross said, "I was truly moved by the ecumenical service. Not only did we have all of the church and temple members there together, but we were able to include Reverend Felipe Portillo of the Pentacostal Church. He was able to speak in Spanish, and Rabbi Acrish was able to translate for him. I was particularly moved by this."
Although the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service had been an annual event in Brewster for many years, it has not been held recently. It is also the first time it was hosted at Temple Beth Elohim's new home on Mt. Ebo Road North.
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