Churches unite in thanks

Calling on Utahns to thank God and share blessings with others, leaders of more than a dozen religious organizations participated in interfaith Thanksgiving services Sunday night.

More than 2,000 Utahns of many faiths attended services in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Greek Orthodox Church, 279 S. 300 West, and in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Holladay, 1375 E. Spring Lane.

Speakers included representatives of the Jewish religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Greek Orthodox Church, Lutherans, Presbyterians, the Baha'i community, Tibetan Buddhists, the Islamic Society, the Catholic Church, the Krishna Temple, the Holladay United Church of Christ, the Ute Indians, Baptists, the First Unitarian Church, the Episcopal Diocese of Utah and others.

Religiously diverse communities need to gather under one roof to remind themselves of their similarities, said BYU President Cecil Samuelson, who delivered the Thanksgiving message at the Holladay church.

Samuelson, who has kept a house in Holladay for 30 years, said residents can be grateful for people who volunteer at local schools and as sports coaches.

People also owe gratitude to police officers, firefighters, teachers, librarians and even merchants and business owners to provide significant city tax revenue, he said. "I hope we express our gratitude openly and regularly," said Samuelson. Often "our efforts are insufficient for our blessings — no matter what they are."

At the Greek Orthodox church, The Rev. Michael Kouremetis, dean of that church, said Thanksgiving is when mundane considerations should be put aside "to focus on giving thanks to the Creator. It's good that we gather together as one family," paying attention to the good things, he said.

"In a safe spot, in God's house, we're gathered to give thanks."

Gov. Olene Walker said Thanksgiving is a time when we should take a moment out of our "busy, hectic lives" to reflect on the things we are thankful for. These include freedom and the men and women overseas who are fighting for freedom for others, she added.

Larry Cesspooch, Ute spiritual leader, led the Salt Lake City gathering in prayer. He used an eagle's wing to waft blessings, symbolized by the fragrance from a burning strand of sweet grass.

He spoke of the way the Creator made life from earth and water. "The only difference between us is the color of the earth that's used to make us," Cesspooch said.

The Most Rev. George Niederauer of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City read from St. Paul, asking that people forgive one another.