Church leaders, both denominational and non-denominational, in the Oxford/Orion area will come together 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 to conduct a community Thanksgiving service at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion.
‘We’re extending an open invitation to not only the church people of the community, but also non-church people to come out and celebrate Thanksgiving with us,? said Pastor Larry Hayward, of Oxford Community Church.
An annual tradition since 1999, ‘there’s usually 10-15 different churches that will have a representative there that night,? according to Hayward.
Conducted by the Oxford-Orion Ministers Association, the one-hour joint service offers local church leaders and members the opportunity to come together ‘to express our thanks to God? and ‘show the community we can all work together in the body of Christ.?
‘We’re coming together to emphasize our points of agreement rather than nitpicking over our points of disagreement,? Hayward explained.
For regular churchgoers, the service ‘gives them a sense of well-being and good-feeling to see the leaders of their respective churches get along with and work well with the leaders of the other churches.?
For non-churchgoers, ‘it says at least in this area, the church doing what it should, which is acting in unity, acting in love towards one another and working together as opposed to pulling in separate directions.?
A fellowship time complete with snacks and beverages will immediately follow the service.