By Andrew Hackmack
Every year the Religious Council of Valley Stream holds an interfaith service the day before Thanksgiving and this year it was at the New Hope Lutheran Church on Oliver Avenue in North Valley Stream.
Rev. John Hopkins, who heads the council, said religious leaders get together on a regular basis to discuss community support and find ways to support each other¹s individual ministries.
³One of the aims is to foster understanding,² he said, ³and to have dialogue with people of other faiths.²
Other religious leaders on hand last week includes Rev. John Cole of the Grace United Methodist Church, Pastor Thomas Harold and Sister Margie Kelly of the Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church, Barbara Myers of the First Church of Christ Scientist and Rabbi Robert Heyman. Valley Stream Mayor Ed Cahill also joined in to read a special Thanksgiving Proclamation.
At the interfaith mass, money is collected for a local charity or outreach program. This year, it is earmarked for the family of Alexa Rae, a 13-year-old girl who is unergoing treatment for Non-Hodgkin¹s Lymphoma. The family are parishioners at Holy Name of Mary.
³Even with medical coverage,² Kelly said, ³it is a tremendous amount of burden placed on the family. I know they would be very grateful for any financial support they got.²
Kelly said more than money, the family is seeking prayer. They are looking for people of all faiths to pray for Alexa¹s recovery as well as strength for the family to get through this difficult time period. According to Kelly, Alexa has a long road ahead, as she is only in the early stages of two years of treatment.
The parish has tried to support the Rae family in any way possible, Kelly said. She hopes to get the word out to other congregations in Valley Stream to ask people to keep Alexa in their thoughts and prayers.
Hopkins said the collection tied in with the theme of last Wednesday night¹s mass how people of all faiths can do something to help others.
To help Alexa or to offer words of support, visit www.prayforalexarae.com.
