Everett churches gather to celebrate Thanksgiving

Published 10:44 pm Friday, November 20, 2009

EVERETT — Thanksgiving will be celebrated one day early by the city’s clergy and church members.

At noon Wednesday, people from Everett churches will meet at the Snohomish County Flag Plaza for the Everett Community Thanksgiving Celebration. The event is sponsored by Everett churches. It was held for the first time last year.

“We wanted to make it simple,” said the Rev. Fred Zoeller of Westminster Presbyterian Church. “It’s an opportunity to have live music and for people to pray and read from the Bible. All the churches are involved.”

The celebratory event will begin with an introduction by Lori Greenwood from the Word of Truth Christian Center. Then individuals from different churches will share scripture and prayer. The Trinity Lutheran College Touring Ensemble directed by Michael Miller will perform musical selections.

Baritone singer Steve Torrence, the music director at First Presbyterian Church, and soprano singer Ida Mitchell of Westminster Presbyterian Church will sing the duet “Let All Things Now Living” and lead the singing of verses of “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” and “We Gather Together.”

This will be the first time the Rev. Peter Kulakevich of Harvest Christian Center International has participated in the annual service. He will read a short Bible verse during the event. The Rev. Sandy Hackett of First Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Ken Long of Northshore Christian Church will also read verses.

Kulakevich said he plans to read part of a Bible verse in Russian. He selected Psalm 103 for his reading.

“(The psalm) includes thanksgiving on a more wide level than Thanksgiving food,” he said. “It talks about the healing we have from God, the forgiveness we have from God and the renewal we have from God.”

Chaplain Edwin Carroll of Naval Station Everett, the Rev. Bryan Hersey of Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Help churches, and the Rev. Keith Trapp of Real Life Ministries will each share a prayer.

The event is a general ceremony of thanks, said Torrence, who attended the inaugural event last year.

“In this country we have a lot more than most,” he said. “For me it’s a nice opportunity … it’s not just for one of any particular faith.”

Last year’s celebration brought 50 people to the plaza, Zoeller said. This year, he hopes an even larger crowd will gather.

“It’s really for everybody,” he said. “I think it will be fun.”

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491, adaybert@heraldnet.com.

You’re invited

The Everett Community Thanksgiving Celebration is noon Wednesday at the Snohomish County Flag Plaza, 3000 Rockefeller Ave.

For more information, call 425-252-3757 or 425-304-3342.