News for May 2009

Valley’s many faiths offer many prayers

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Friday, May 8, 2009.

By CHARLES F. BOSTWICK
Valley Press Managing Editor

LANCASTER – A song in Hebrew by a young resistance fighter executed in World War II, Nichiren Shu Buddhism and Bhakti yoga chants, a prayer to Odin, and “America, the Beautiful” and “How Great Thou Art” were part of the Antelope Valley Interfaith Council’s sixth annual National Day of Prayer Service.

“Out of Many Faiths Come Many Prayers” was the theme for the service, which featured Unitarian-Universalist, Asatru, Christian Science, Nichiren Shu Buddhism, Revealing Truth and Bhakti yoga prayers and readings – asking for courage and compassion, for leaders who serve the people and enact fair laws, and for help to become better human beings.

“I enjoy hearing all the different faith traditions,” said Wiccan Elder Priestess Lisa Morgenstern, who offered a prayer to Odin at the gathering, which drew about 60 people to the Center of Light and which was co-sponsored by the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force.

Rabbi David Hoffman of Beth Knesset Bamidbar in Lancaster sang, in Hebrew, a poem by Hannah Szenes, who parachuted into Nazi-occupied Europe in 1944 to rescue Jews about to be deported to a death camp. She was captured, tortured and executed at age 23.

“Oh God, may these things never cease: the sand and the sea, the rush of the waters, the flash in the heavens, the prayer in humanity’s heart,” Hoffman translated.

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Edited: May 9th, 2009