BETHLEHEM, Pa. (WLVT) - More than 15 local faith organizations and houses of worship shared music, prayer and more during a special virtual service Sunday.
The Bethlehem Interfaith Group (BIG) organized the event in an effort to promote healing and unity ahead of Thanksgiving in the midst of a year largely marked by sickness and division.
"It is as if we are all in one big emergency room on gurneys — each calling out, yelling, hoping we’ll be the one next in line for care," said the Reverend Canon Dale Grandfield of Cathedral Church of the Nativity.
Contributions included presentations from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths.
"For the many nations, races and languages of your people, with one voice, we thank you, O God," said Father Anthony Mongiello of St. Anne Catholic Church.
As Thanksgiving approaches, the groups focused on gratitude and togetherness. Faith leaders pointed to the pandemic, the political landscape, and racial unrest across the country and called for restoration.
"We seek healing of our communities, and we seek healing of our hearts," said the Reverend Beth Goudy from the Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley. "There are ancient wounds, and there are contemporary wounds that are in need of our attention and are in need of the spirit’s attention."
"We need to remember that there is far more that binds us together than there is that divides us," Grandfield said. "The road is rough and rugged, but together, we are going to walk it with God, and we are going to make the rough places plain."
"We know that to be healed is to be changed and transformed, and we pray for this change and transformation locally, across the United States, as well as globally," Goudy said.
With state officials discouraging family gatherings during the holidays, BIG safely shared a message for anyone to hear.
"With humble hearts, we bring our gifts in hope that all Your people would know what it is to have enough," said the Reverend Melissa Johnson of Advent Moravian Church in a prayer.
"Let us go forth out of our gratitude with generosity to do our best to share these gifts and blessings," added Rick Dow of the Lehigh Valley Friends Meeting. "Well, with appropriate masking and distancing."
To watch the special interfaith service, click HERE.