Members of the Creighton community filled St. Johnβs for Campus Ministryβs annual Interfaith Prayer Service Wednesday afternoon.
The service brings together representatives from various faiths to share in a spiritual reflection experience. Faiths represented this year were Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Native American Spirituality and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.βLet us sit now for a few minutes of prayer and reflection,β Interim President J. Christopher Bradberry, Pharm. D. said, starting the service.
A series of calls to prayer followed. This included the blowing of the Shofar and the reciting of the Shema from Judaism; bells from Christianity; The Muslim call to prayer, or Adhan; bells and Shoka to Ganesh from Hinduism and a prayer to the Four Directions from Native American Spirituality.
Members of different faiths proceeded to share readings and prayers from their respective traditions.
This led to the candle lighting ceremony. Representatives from departments, divisions and organizations across campus lined up to light candles. They then spread the candlelight to each member of the congregation.
Arts & Sciences junior Nick Tvrdy has attended the service for two consecutive years. Tvrdy explained what drew him back for the second occasion.
βItβs amazing to me, after going to the service for its second year, that so many people on this campus were willing to open their hearts and minds to other cultures of faith from across the world,β Tvrdy said. βI think the most important takeaway from an event like this is just how human it isβ¦and that we should have gratitude for the opportunities life brings.β
Arts & Sciences junior Gabe Aguero echoed Tvrdy’s sentiments.Β
“I thought it was great,” Aguero said. “It’s cool to see a diverse part of the Omaha community that we don’t get a chance to see enough of.”
Members of various faiths prepare for the Ceremony of Light during the Interfaith Prayer Service at St. John’s.
The congregation participates in the Ceremony of Light during the Interfaith Prayer Service at St. John’s.Β