This year marked the 32nd annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service. The performance of this interfaith service is a much-revered tradition in the Northern Nevada community and one that is largely unique nationwide in its scope of faith diversity.

This year’s service, titled “The Doctrine of Inclusion,” was held on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 7 p.m. It was hosted by Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sparks, Nevada. Elder Ren Johasan of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivered the keynote address. Monetary donations gathered were given to the 2018 NIA Youth Conference. Food donations were used to feed the hungry through the St. Francis of Assissi Food Pantry.

This worship service of prayers, readings and music from a variety of faith traditions was organized by the coordinating council of the Nevada Interfaith Organization, the renamed Nevada Clergy Association, of which Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. was president until this year. Bishop Savoy presented the “Thanksgiving Hymn” from the Dead Sea Scrolls as part of the program.

Also in attendance from the Second Advent Church were Radheka Patel Savoy, Claudia Grady, and Noriko, Joseph and Robert Roy.

Presenters at the 2017 Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service gathered before the program

Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California

Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. met with Pastor David Arnold of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California during a visit to San Diego this past summer to discuss community outreach methods.

Saddleback Church is an evangelical Christian megachurch located in Lake Forest, California, situated in southern Orange County, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. The church was founded in 1980 by Pastor Rick Warren. Weekly church attendance averages over 20,000 people, currently making it the fifth-largest church in the United States by attendance (this ranking includes multi-site churches).

Mr. David Tofolo of Orange County, California, a friend of Bishop Savoy, offered to introduce him to the Senior Pastor of the church, Rick Warren, while Gene and his wife Radheka were in San Diego on other business. Another associate of Gene, Ed Crowder, a prominent Orange County businessman, attended the meeting. Bishop Gene and Pastor Arnold spoke on their respective churches, community outreach, marketing, membership, message, preaching and teaching styles, and youth involvement.

Pastor Arnold complimented Bishop Savoy on the ministry of the International Community of Christ, saying that he had heard of the Church and that the Church base was very strong. He offered to help Bishop Savoy in any way that he could in the future. Their meeting, which lasted about an hour, concluded with a moment of prayer.

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Taiko Drums open the 2017 Nevada Prayer Breakfast program PHOTO: Stephan Fuelling

The 2017 Nevada Prayer Breakfast, held at the Atlantis Resort “Paradise Room” Tuesday, May 2, 2017, from 7:00-9:00 am, was attended by an estimated 300 people with representatives from over 20 local religious and social organizations. The theme of the program was “Out of Many, One.” The event is one of several annual events sponsored and promoted by the Nevada Clergy Association (NCA).

The NCA has been in existence for over two decades, and it has taken a lot of time and effort to bring the organization to the state it is now in. But it has been a blessing and something that is dear to the hearts of many in the area.

The Nevada Prayer Breakfast is a gathering of citizens — as well as civic, business, and community leaders — who wish to pray on behalf of our State and bring the spiritual resources of the community together to bear on issues that face Nevadans. Although members of the community may believe differently in their approach to the Divine, they gather at the Nevada Prayer Breakfast as equals. Together, they devote their energies to the good of the State of Nevada. And together, they pray.

The Nevada Clergy Association is a non-profit interfaith network of religious and spiritual leaders in Nevada. Programs include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Service, the interfaith Nevada Prayer Breakfast, the Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service, and the biannual Interfaith Clergy Luncheon. For information call (775) 786-1800 or visit www.NevadaClergy.net.

Download or view a PDF of the 2017 Nevada Prayer Breakfast Program here.

Son of Onie Cooper, deceased, past president of Martine Luther King Jr Holiday Committee, addresses the audience

In 2017 the Northern Nevada Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee and the Nevada Clergy Association presented community memorial events in the Reno community in celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr.:

The 31st Annual Interfaith Community Memorial Service
Sunday, January 15, 2017 3:00 Pm
Bethel AME Church
2655 Rock Blvd., Sparks, Nv 89431

The 19th Annual Community Memorial Caravan
Monday, January 16, 2017 10:00 AM
Meeting at Bethel AME Church
2655 Rock Blvd., Sparks, Nv 89431

The theme of the celebration this year was “Freedom and Justice for Change.” And this was the theme of the keynote speaker in 2017, Imam Abdul Barghouthi.

Imam Abdul Barghouthi immigrated to the US from Palestine in 1978 seeking freedom and education. He has been a volunteer Imam at the Northern Nevada Muslim Community Center since 2000, and since 2001 has been an active member of the Nevada Clergy Association. At the center of his work is the effort to close the gaps and create an environment of dialogue and understanding between the various cultures and religious group in the northern Nevada community. An advocate for equality justice and peace for all, he works to empower those who seek hope and change, and help those who seek knowledge about Islam and Muslims.

Imam Barghouthi has lectured and spoken in many venues and appeared on TV and Radio numerous times over the last 16 years.

Imam Barghouthi has raised four children, two girls and two boys. One of his boys is an army veteran and the father of two grandchildren.

View or download a copy of the program.

2017 MLK JR CELEBRATION PHOTO GALLERY

WELCOME by Reverend Larry J. Holloway, Bethel AME Church

INTRODUCTIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS by Mary Cooper, Northern Nevada Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee

INVOCATION by Rajan Zed, President, Universal Society of Hinduism

MUSICAL SELECTION by Bethel AME Choir

“POLICING AND THE COMMUNITY” by Commander Oliver Miller, Reno Police Department

“UNDERSTANDING THE SACREDNESS OF ALL” by Reverend Neil Anderson, Sr. Minister Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: “FREEDOM & JUSTICE FOR CHANGE” by Imam Abdul Barghouthi, Northern Nevada Muslim Community

REVEREND ONIE COOPER HUMANITARIAN AWARD presented by Mary Cooper, Martin Luther King, Jr.. Holiday Committee to recipient Right Reverend Gene Savoy J

MUSICAL PRESENTATION: “UNDER ONE SKY” Jim Eaglesmith, Patricia Gallimore, vocal, and Bethel AME Church Choir performing

MUSICAL PRESENTATION: “UNDER ONE SKY” Rev. Gary Buchanan, piano, and Dallas Smith, horn, performing

CLOSING REMARKS by Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr, Bishop, International Community of Christ, President, Nevada Clergy AssociationChairman, Northern Nevada Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee

BENEDICTION by Reverend Mother Rebecca Willis, International Community of Christ

View or download a copy of the program.

Download a PDF of the MLK flyer

Click here to open a PDF of the flyer for download.

The 31st Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service, “Refuge from the Storm,” will be held on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

It is a worship service of prayers, readings and music from a variety of Faith traditions sponsored by the Nevada Clergy Association.

This year’s event is graciously hosted by: Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 Island Avenue, Reno, NV 89501. Monetary and food donations will go to Northern Nevada International Center – Refugee Resettlement Account.

This event is a much-revered tradition in our local community and one that is largely unique nationwide in its scope of faith diversity—something to be very proud of.

The last five previous hosts were: St. Therese Church of the Little Flower (2014), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2013), St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cathedral (2012), St. John’s Presbyterian Church (2011), Trinity Episcopal Church (2010).

For information call 775-786-1800 or email frwilliam@trinityreno.org.

Click here to open a PDF of the flyer for download.

Fr. Jose Herrera, Pastor of Little Flower Church in Reno

Through the special efforts of Fr. Jorge Herrera, The Nevada Clergy Association (NCA) received status from the federal government as a tax-exempt non-profit organization.

The NCA qualified for this exemption as a religious and charitable organization on September 1, 2016.

Fr. Herrera, pastor of the Little Flower Church in Reno, has been an active member of NCA since he was assigned to that parish.

Abdul & Fatima entering reception PHOTO: Jim Eaglesmith

Rabbis Myra Soifer and Ethan Blair, both of Temple Sinai Synagogue, invited Northern Nevada interfaith community members to celebrate the marriage of their friend and fellow Nevada Clergy Association member, Abdul Barghoutti to his beloved Fatima. The celebration was held at the community center of Temple Sinai on August 28th. Abdul, a long-time Reno resident, is imam of the Northern Nevada Muslim Community Center.

In attendance from the International Community of Christ were Bishop Gene Savoy Jr. and Revs. Francine and Robert Petrovich.

PHOTO: Jim Eaglesmith

Watch a 6-minute documentary on the University of Nevada-Reno Interfaith Prayer Room, which shows the recent grand opening of the University of Nevada Reno Meditation and Reflection Rooms at the new William Pennington Student Achievement Center. Reverend Gene Savoy Jr’s interview closes out the video, and many other faith leaders in the community are shown throughout.

The video was shot and produced by the Reverend Stephen Child, a Reno resident and member of the Unification Church and the American Clergy Leadership Conference.

Follow this link to watch the video on YouTube.