Story and photos by Sara Boadwee, Christ Church, Los Altos parishioner, Chair of the Vital+Thriving Steering Committee, and Vestry Member.
Over 200 people of faith—Muslims, Jews, and Christians—gathered at Christ Church, Los Altos, on Nov. 13 to share an interfaith Thanksgiving feast. It was a midweek night in a world that often feels dark and divided, yet attendees, including acquaintances, friends, and strangers, came together under the theme “Grateful Hearts, Shared Blessings.”
The event was conceived by members of the Pacifica Institute. Other sponsors included Congregation Beth Am of Los Altos Hills and interfaith organizations Bay Area Cultural Connections (BayCC), Building Bridges Together, and the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council. Some members of these groups are recent immigrants from Turkey, who provided food and helped plan the program.
The event grew from a smaller interfaith Thanksgiving held at Christ Church in 2023. Taking place just weeks after the Oct. 7 attack in Israel, that dinner was a noteworthy gathering that renewed friendships and demonstrated a strong desire for peace and wholeness. Interfaith collaboration at Christ Church has also been inspired by the church’s participation in the diocese’s Vital+Thriving initiative. As the congregation has begun to look intentionally for ways to engage with God’s work outside of the church, it has received invitations from various outside groups and individuals.
This year’s interfaith Thanksgiving is one of the latest examples. For all attendees, it was a time to learn—from a Catholic deacon who spoke about the Eucharist, to members of the Muslim community who expressed gratitude for the life of a prominent scholar and advocate for interfaith dialogue and peace who recently passed away. It was also a time to sing a song led by the church’s rector, the Rev. Claire Dietrich Ranna, and to enjoy a lovely performance on a traditional Kyrgyz instrument. The evening featured a moving rendition of the Taizé chant, “Ubi Caritas,” performed by a trio from the parish, with lyrics affirming that “where love is, God is.”
