INTERFAITH COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE Hingham-Hull Religious Leaders Association 7:00 p.m. November 25, 2020 From the Old Ship Meeting House We gather together as free religious people, affirming that our deep bonds of the spirit transcend outward differences of faith or politics. Prelude: Prelude in C Gustav Merkel Christopher Nickelson-Mann Introit: Building Bridges Quaker Round Christopher Nickelson-Mann Call to a Shared Thanksgiving: Rev. Peter Allen, Rev. Stephanie Shute Kelsch Deacon Joseph Harrington, Rabbi Shira Joseph Processional Hymn: We Gather Together Netherlands, 1626 We gather together to ask for God’s blessing, Who chastens and hastens God’s will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sing praises to thy name, who forgets not thine own. Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining the realm divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, God, wast at our side, all glory be thine. We all do extol thee, our leader triumphant, And pray that thou still our defender wilt be, Let thy congregation escape tribulation, Thy name be ever praised! O God, make us free. Welcome: Rev. Ken Read-Brown Reading: Thanksgiving (from Sim Shalom prayer book) Rev. Gary Ludwig, Ms. Rhoda Kanet Anthem: Haleluyah Leonard Cohen sung by Rabbi David Grossman and the "Back in Town" quartet from Temple Beth Sholom Prayer: Wampanoag Prayer, by John Peters (Slow Turtle) Rev. Steven Aucella Hymn: Come Ye Thankful People, Come Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin; God, our maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied; Come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home. All the world is God's own field, fruit unto God's praise shall yield: Wheat and tares together sown, unto joy or sorrow grown; First the blade, and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear; Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be. These to thee, our God, we owe, source whence all our blessings flow; And for these our souls shall raise grateful vows and solemn praise. Gather thou thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin; Come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home. Reading: Psalm 46: 1-7 Brother Daniel Walters Anthem: Shalom Havayreem Traditional Hebrew Round Irene Hicks and Rev. Geoffrey Hicks Reading: Philippians 4:11-13 Rev. Timothy Schenck Hymn: For The Beauty of the Earth For the beauty of the earth, for the splendor of the skies, For the love which from our birth over and around us lies: Source of all, to thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise. For the joy of human care, sister, brother, parent, child, For the kinship we all share, for all gentle thoughts and mild: Source of all, the thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise. Sermon: What Truly Matters Ms. Elizabeth Reardon Solo: Modim Anachnu Lach (We Are Grateful) Michael Hunter Ochs sung by Cantor Steven Weiss Invitation to Sharing Our Gifts: Mr. Vinny Harte Our Thanksgiving offering will support the Diane Edson Fund of the Wellspring Multiservice Center in Hull. Every dollar of your gift will be used for direct assistance to those clients of Wellspring who are most in need during this season. Checks may be made out to Wellspring. Thank you for your gifts this evening! Dedicatory Prayer: Rev. Robert Edson Anthem: The Blessing Rev. Jeremy Scott and family Thanksgiving Litany: (read responsively) Modim Anachnu Lach (We Give Thanks) by Eugene Pickett Rev. Amy Whitcomb Slemmer For the expanding grandeur of creation Worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, Filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations, Modim Anachnu Lach, We Give Thanks For this fragile planet earth, its wonders and surprises, Its hopes and achievements, Modim Anachnu Lach, We Give Thanks For human continuity, our common past and future hope, Our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work For peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression, Modim Anachnu Lach, We Give Thanks For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, For understanding of views not shared, Modim Anachnu Lach, We Give Thanks For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world Who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom, Modim Anachnu Lach, We Give Thanks For human liberties and sacred rites: For opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose, Modim Anachnu Lach, We Give Thanks We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, Not by our words but by our deeds. Amen Closing Hymn: America the Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern, impassioned stress, A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law. O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea! Benediction: Rev. Jacqueline Clark Sung Benediction: Halle Halle Halle Caribbean Melody Christopher Nickelson-Mann Postlude: Andante John Stanley Christopher Nickelson-Mann Participants Rev. Peter Allen Rev. Stephanie Shute Kelsch Hingham Congregational Church Second Parish in Hingham, Unitarian United Church of Christ Universalist Rev. Steven M. Aucella Rev. Gary Ludwig New North Church, Hingham First Baptist Church, Hingham Rev. Jacqueline Clark Christopher Nickelson-Mann St. John's Episcopal Church, Hingham Music Director Rev. Robert Edson First Parish in Hingham (Old Ship Church) Rector Emeritus Unitarian Universalist St. John’s Episcopal Church, Hingham Rev. Kenneth Read-Brown First Parish in Hingham (Old Ship Church) Rabbi David Grossman Unitarian Universalist with the "Back in Town" quartet Temple Beth Sholom, Hull Ms. Elizabeth Reardon Director of Parish Ministries Deacon Joseph Harrington Resurrection and St. Paul Parishes Resurrection and St. Paul Parishes Rev. Timothy Schenck Mr. Vinny Harte St. John's Episcopal Church, Hingham President and CEO, Wellspring, Hull Rev. Jeremy Scott Ms. Irene Hicks and family and North Street Community Church Rev. Geoffrey Hicks Church of the Nazarene Minister of Music Rev. Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, Esq. First Baptist Church, Hingham Chair, Board of Directors, Wellspring, Hull Rabbi Shira Joseph Brother Daniel Walters, OSB Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, Hingham Glastonbury Abbey Ms. Rhoda Kanet Cantor Steven Weiss Hull No Place for Hate Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, Hingham .