Community Worship Services
Community services have been held for Earth Day, for Unity and Peace, to combat
hate crimes and to remember September 11, 2001. Services have also been organized in support of
various community
concerns and for disaster relief. DCIC Also holds a yearly Interfaith Thanksgiving Service the Sunday
before Thanksgiving.
2011 Thanksgiving Celebration: Gratitude for Life's Blessings
 | The Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service was held at First Congregational Church in Poughkeepsie on Sunday, November 20th. It featured performances and prayers from several faith traditions. This year's service was dedicated to former DCIC Treasurer and board member Lois Olson, who lost her battle with cancer in August. Lois had also regularly volunteered at the Dutchess Outreach Food Pantry which received donations of shelf stable food collected at the service. The service featured music performances including an organ prelude by Michael Golzmane, Cantor Rena Shapiro who led the congregation in a song from the Jewish tradition, and Barbara Davis who performed a song from the Baptist tradition. Prayers were led by Imam Asil Kahn of Masjid Al Noor, Deacon Frank Hung of St. Martin De Porres Roman Catholic Church, Ani Dehpa of Kagyu Thubten Choling Buddhist Monestary and Donna Coane of the local Native American community. Rev. Heather Moody from the hosting house of worship greeted the gathering and gave the closing benediction. |
On
behalf of everyone at DCIC, I want to extend my most sincere thanks
to Rev.
Heather Moody and to all the people of First Congregational Church
for hosting
this year’s service. It has been my pleasure to work with Rev. Moody
in
planning this joyful event. I also want to thank Cantor Rena Shapiro and Mrs.
Barbara Davis for their
assistance in planning this evening’s gathering. Their
depth of musical experience and their eagerness to share their talent has once
again helped to provide balance
and harmony to our program.
And,
finally my deepest gratitude to all the participants in prayer and song and
to
all of you who have joined us for this blessed celebration of Thanksgiving!
2010 Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Haiti
After the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the Dutchess County Interfaith Council was contacted by members of the local Haitian community to help organize an interfaith prayer vigil. Working together with the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at Vassar College, the Vassar Haiti Project, an Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Haiti was held at the Vassar College Chapel on the snow date of February 15th with over 100 attendees.
The program opened with a harp prelude by a Vassar College Student, Sam Chin performing her original composition honoring the victims of the Haitian earthquake.
Opening remarks were given by DCIC Executive Director Ed Koziol followed by a greeting from the Haitian Community given by Marc Coq, of St. Columba's Parish in Hopewell Junction. Sam Speers, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at Vassar College welcomed attendees.
Traditional Haitian music was performed by guitarist Marc Methelier and sung by Michele Sobel followed by an opening prayer given by Rev Horace Choate, Rector of Zion Episcopal Church, Wappingers Falls, NY. Kendrick Coq, student of Our Lady of Lourdes High School gave a reading of Psalm 23 and Cantor Rena Shapiro of Temple Beth-El sung Hebrew Memorial Prayer and Healing Prayer.
Intercessory Prayers were given by DCIC board member Pastor Dan Ward of St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church of Poughkeepsie, Rev. Gail Burger, Executive Director Emeriti of DCIC, Imam Asil Khan of Masjid Al Noor and Mid-Hudson Islamic Association, Uma Satyendra of the Hindu Samaj in Wappingers Falls and Secretary of the DCIC Board of Directors and Minister Sheila Butler of Beulah Baptist Church in Poughkeepsie. Prayers were followed by periods of silent reflection and meditation.
Closing remarks were given by the DCIC President, Theresa Giovanniello of St. Martin De Porres R.C. Church in Poughkeepsie. The candle lighting was lead by Michael Joseph, also of St. Martin De Porres R.C. Church, and Sabrina Jaar Marzouka of St. Peter's R.C. Church, both representing the local Haitian community. An interlude of traditional Haitian music followed the ceremony and organist Joseph Bertolozzi performed the closing song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" as all in the assembly joined in singing.