Local clergy sponsor interfaith Thanksgiving service Local clergy sponsor interfaith Thanksgiving service (November 17, 2004)

An interfaith Thanksgiving service will be held in the Woodside Priory Chapel in Portola Valley at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving, November 25.

The service, sponsored by the clergy of Portola Valley and Woodside, will incorporate celebrations and prayers from the Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions.

Rabbi Jay Miller, executive director of the Peninsula Clergy Network, has chosen "Thankful for Each Other" as his topic. He was the rabbi for the university campuses in San Diego for 20 years before coming to the Peninsula.

The Peninsula Clergy Network's mission is to establish an interactive network of clergy leaders in San Mateo and northern Santa Clara counties to build knowledge, understanding and working relationships between religious and civic leaders and the communities they jointly serve.

Music for the service will be under the direction of Mary Carroll, leader of song at the Sunday Eucharist at the Priory. After the service, participants will break bread and share light snacks.

The offering will be shared equally with two organizations: The Interfaith Hospitality Network and the Christian Peacemaking organization in Palestine and Iraq in memory of Kathleen Namphy. A retired Stanford professor and Palo Alto resident, Ms. Namphy was a crusader for peace, who died in a mountain climbing accident in Iran.

The interfaith Hospitality Network provides shelter, food and services to homeless families in San Mateo County in conjunction with local synagogues and churches. Each congregation houses families overnight on site for a week.

Members of the congregations provide dinner, breakfast and a bag lunch. Families are based out of a day center, located on the Midpeninsula. Network staff provide case management, job search, life skills, housing searches, and homework support for the children.

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