Congregants To Gather For Thanksgiving Eve Interfaith Service At South Jersey Church
MARLTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Catholics, Protestants and Jews will come together in Marlton, New Jersey tonight for an interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service. It's a tradition that's spanned more than three decades.
"It goes all the way back to 1981, and was just an effort to bring the community together," says Father Richard LaVerghetta, pastor of Saint Joan of Arch Church.
This year, his parish is home to Marlton's Community Thanksgiving Service tonight, which includes a variety of prayer traditions, pastors, rabbis and reverend -- all there to give thanks together.
"Each minister, rabbi and priest that's there will have a different role to play," LaVerghetta says. ""We'll gather together in an interfaith way when crises hits or tragedy hits, so it's just good to come together in an interfaith way."
Rev Brett Ballenger, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, will attend the service for the first time. His congregants will head over to St. Joan's tonight for the 45 minute service, which will include music, a sermon followed by food -- a chance to bring Marlton's 11 chaplains and their congregations together.
"It makes me feel hopeful," Ballenger says. "(I hope) that it would be not just a one time event, but a spring board for other events."
The service begins at 7 p.m. and all are welcome.
St. Joan of Arc's Church is located at 100 Willow Bend Road.
