Chatham United Methodist Church Hosted Abraham Interfaith Lunch

Pastor Jeff Markay and guest speakers, among the are the Peace Islands Institute members.
Pastor Jeff Markay and guest speakers, among the are the Peace Islands Institute members.


Date posted: May 4, 2019

By C. ZIEGLER

The Chatham United Methodist Church hosted its 6th Annual Abraham Interfaith Lunch on Tuesday, April 30th. The theme of the event was to embrace faiths of all kinds while joining together to help refugees in need. “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:19) Jesus said, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35) “Was not the earth of God spacious enough for you to flee for refuge?” (Quran 4:97)

Members of different faiths from Judaism to Islam to Christian literally and figuratively “broke bread together” in an effort to understand the backgrounds and experiences that helped mold who they are as citizens who volunteer time and money within their communities to provide food and shelter for the less fortunate.

Over 120 people of all faiths gathered to celebrate and share food generously prepared by the Peace Islands Institute. The menu included grilled vegetables and meat, garbanzo beans and rice, string beans and sauce, and baklava for dessert.

Offering a place for all to pray, meet together for conversation and fellowship, the Chatham United Methodist Church (CUMC) allowed for an inclusive and prayerful vision to become reality. “The guests may have entered the doors as strangers, but they left having made new friends and a new understanding of faith,” said Peggy Melvin.

The Chatham United Methodist Church Senior Pastor, Jeff Markay was host and gave the opening remarks. Markay is known for, among other things, his outreach and networking abilities to provide food and shelter to refugees, homeless, and others on the fringes of society. “His compassion and hope for all to grow in appreciation of each other is infectious, “ said one guest. 

CUMC Associate Pastor, Sharon Yarger gave the invocation. Speakers on the topic of Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Those that Welcome Them included Osman Dulgeroglu of Peace Islands Institute; Mary and Gerry Gannon and Frank of Refugee Assistance Morris Partners (RAMP); Jenny Tananbaum of the Saturday Morning Fun Club at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield; the Rev. Julie Yarborough and Robby of One World One Love; Andrea Wren-Hardin of First Friends; and the Rev. Kristin Markay of Lambeth Refugees Welcome (London).

The message of the speakers was that despite a difference in faith and background, the driving force in helping those in need, whether they be refugees, asylum seekers, or homeless, is more powerful than language, country of birth or religion. Working together as all of God’s children can make a positive change in the world.

Source: TAPintoChatham , May 2, 2019


Related News

Remarks by Congressman Randy Weber (Representing Texas) at IFLC Washington DC

International Festival of Language and Culture – IFLC 2016 Remarks by Congressman Randy Weber (Representing Texas) IFLC Washington DC

When I met a Gandhian ‘Jihadi’ in America

What explains Gulen’s deep faith in peace, nonviolence, human dignity and inter-faith tolerance and dialogue as the cornerstones of Islam? For answer, we have to know something about the ‘Guru’ who influenced him – Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (1878-1960), one of the greatest Islamic theologians of the last century.

Gülen: Society not divided into Kemalists, Muslims in Turkey

“We can neither talk about two dissociated groups such as Kemalists or Muslims in Turkey, nor we can talk about a ‘divide’ that is impossible to fill. We are heirs of an ‘empire’ society, which possesses characteristics of a mosaic.

Fethullah Gulen and Gulen Movement discussed in New York

A special conversation on Fethullah Gulen and the Gulen Movementby Peace Islands Institute was held at NY Turkish Cultural Center on April 9. The professor of Political Science and Public Administration, analyst and columnist Prof. Dogu Ergil was the guest speaker of the event hosted by Peace Islands Institute President Zafer Akin. In his opening speech, […]

Peace Islands Institute donates platefuls of generosity

The meat is donated as part of the annual Eid al-Adha/Kurban Bayrami celebration, which is the Festival of Sacrifice in the Muslim religion. Eid al-Adha commemorates the Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son at God’s command, and marks the end of Muslims’ annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

O.C. Muslim leaders speak out against extremism

Along with the lives they destroy and extinguish, terrorists who commit these heinous acts in the name of Islam also hurt the global community of Muslims, a majority of whom lead peaceful, productive lives.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Kimse Yok Mu provides medical supplies for Haiti

Islamic scholar Gülen urges followers to remain calm in face of insults

Defying Odds, Afghan Girl Gets Top Grades for University Entrance Exams

Reflections on a Hizmet-inspired school in Tanzania

Panicky parents calmed over Feza Schools closure reports

Interview with Henri Barkey on the Hizmet Movement

Violent Extremism

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News