Bethlehem Presbyterian Church’s Rev. Martha Carlson; Cornwall Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends’ Elizabeth Pozo; Cornwall Presbyterian Church’s Pastor Jeff Geary; Hope United Methodist Church’s Pastor Ross Topliff; St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Rev. Suzanne Toro and Rector and Rev. Deacon David McDonald; St. Marianne Cope Parish’s Rev. Rees Doughty and Pastor and Deacon John Pelella; and Temple Beth Jacob’s Rabbi Douglas Kohn and Sally Faith Dorfman Sirota gathered together last Tuesday evening to lead the 57th annual Cornwall Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.

It was held at Cornwall’s Hope United Methodist Church, and also featured a few words from Cornwall Town Supervisor Joshua Wojehowski and Cornwall-on-Hudson Mayor James Gagliano. The ecumenical service also featured a short flag ceremony, featuring Boy Scouts from Troop 118, and the musical talents of Linda Parrette and Dennis Williams.

The service was soothing, with those speaking talking about not only the blessings in this community, and the world, but the uncertainty as well.

Pastor Topliff opened the service, since it was held in his sanctuary. Delivering the call to worship was Rabbi Douglas Kohn from Temple Beth Jacob in Newburgh, who was introduced by Sally Faith Dorfman-Sirota, a lifelong member of that congregation. She thanked Hope United Methodist for “bringing us back together again”, noting that she recalls attending the interfaith service as a young person with her parents.

Rabbi Kohn played a shofar – an ancient musical horn typically made of a ram’s horn, used for Jewish ritual purposes – as part of his message, saying “the shofar today calls us not to pray with our hearts … that’s not enough. We need to pray with our actions … to step up when someone needs a hand”. He expressed concern for migrants currently living in the United States, saying “it is not a good time for them”.

Rev. Geary delivered the Thanksgiving message, reading from the New Testament, and Rev. Doughty read from the Old Testament. Geary urged those in the church to “be faithful stewards of all that God has given us”.

Rev. Carlson led a responsive prayer, and Rev. Toro offered the prayer of dedication. In a tradition of the service, the clergy gathered at the altar at the end of the service to each offer a short benediction.

In his remarks, Mayor Gagliano read a proclamation praising the long-time “inclusive, ecumenical service”, and thanking local faith leaders for their inspiration and encouragement. He called it an honor to be in attendance that evening.

“This event should be celebrated and appreciated,” the mayor said, commenting that current conditions around the world should make Americans realize how precious their freedoms are. “All are not so privileged to enjoy such freedoms.”

Supervisor Wojehowski said “Thanksgiving allows us time to consider the many blessings that we have,” and went on to list many community residents – farmers, emergency service workers, town employees, teachers, and families, to name a few – who make the Cornwall community the great place to live, work and play.

He said he remains hopeful that “elected leaders will be able to inspire Americans with kindness, togetherness, thoughtfulness and fairness” in the years to come, “staying away from divisiveness and cruelty”.

“I am hopeful that the Golden Rule will prevail in America – to treat others the way you want to be treated by them, ” Wojehowski said.

The offering during the service was for Fearless! Hudson Valley, Inc., which provides services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Speaking for the group was Rosemary Schwartzberg, who talked about hitting “a very low point in my life” four Thanksgivings ago, to becoming an advocate for Fearless. She spoke about how she draws her faith from the businesses, the families, the church congregations who make a difference by supporting the non-profit organization.

“When individuals gather together in the spirit of wanting to make a difference – no matter the challenges we face as individuals – we can make that difference in the lives of others,” she said. “Tonight fills me with hope.”

In addition to the offering, food donations were collected and then donated to the Highland Mills Food Pantry.

Participating congregations included Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Cornwall Quakers, St. John’s Episcopal Church and St. Marianne Cope Parish. A combined choir from those churches sang We Bring Thanksgiving. Other hymns included Let All Things Now Living, Let There Be Peace on Earth, We Gather Together, and All Creatures of Our God and King.

Refreshments followed in Hope’s Fellowship Hall. And, in case you’re starting to plan for 2025, the 58th such service will take place at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church!

The complete service can be viewed on Hope United Methodist’s Facebook page.