Fort Wayne, Ind. – Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry today was joined by local religious and community leaders who will participate in the upcoming "Prayers for the City – A Celebration of One Community, Many Faiths." Mayor Henry and the participants encouraged the public to attend the special service.
The prayer event will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at the downtown Performing Arts Center of the University of Saint Francis (the former Scottish Rite Auditorium), 431 W. Berry St.
The program and participant list was also released at today's news conference. (The complete listing appears below)
The prayer service is free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item. The donated items will be shared with Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana and the food bank at the Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County.
The event will feature prayers, singing, dances, and readings. Religious traditions represented will include Baha'i; Buddhism; Christianity; Hinduism; Judaism; Islam; Sikhism; and Unitarian Universalism. Those who aren't able to attend are asked to pray for the city in their places of worship.
Mayor Henry developed the program with assistance from Rev. Dr. Terry Anderson, Interfaith Hospitality Network; Amir J. Tamir Rasheed, Islamic Center of Fort Wayne; and Dr. Michael Spath, IPFW.
A reception with light refreshments will be held following the service.
Service details:
Pre-Service Music Aaron Smith; Eric Clancy
Introduction Amir J. Tamir Rasheed, Masjid Al-Quds, Fort Wayne Islamic Center
Dr. L. Michael Spath, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace; Religious Studies, IPFW
Opening Song Maestro Robert Nance, Members of Heartland Chamber Chorale and
University of Saint Francis Singers
Adapted from The New Century Hymnal, The Pilgrim's Press, 1995
New verses written by Rev. Dr. Terry Anderson
Welcome The Honorable Thomas C. Henry, Mayor, Fort Wayne
Muezzin Nur Salaam , Masjid Al-Quds, Fort Wayne Islamic Center
Shema Ryan Tom, Charles Replane, Temple Achduth Vesholom
Invocation Rev. Dr. John Gardner, Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC
Dance Children Dance Group, Indian Cultural Center
Peacemaker Readings
Aung San Suu Kyii Minn Myint Nan Tin, Burmese Advocacy Network
Elie Wiesel Marc Levy, Questa Foundation for Education
Leymal Gbowee Dr. Wendy Robinson, Fort Wayne Community Schools
Desmond Tutu Palermo Galindo, City of Fort Wayne
Shirin Ebadi Husanara Khan, Masjid Al-Quds, Fort Wayne Islamic Center
Mohandas Gandhi Geoff Paddock, 5th District, City of Fort Wayne
Martin Luther King Jr. Jonathan Ray, Fort Wayne Urban League
Song for Reflection Aaron Smith, Eric Clancy
Scriptures/Prayer
Baha'i Billy Howell-Sinnard, Baha'i Community of Fort Wayne
Buddhism Venerable Devananda, Indiana Buddhist Temple
Christianity Rev. Monsignor Robert Schulte, Vicar General, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Hinduism Mr. Vish Gurudutt, Bhajan Society of Fort Wayne
Judaism Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan, Congregation B'nai Jacob
Islam Amir J. Tamir Rasheed, Masjid Al-Quds, Fort Wayne Islamic Center
Sikhism Tarlochan Singh, Priest, Dashmesh Sikh Gurdwara of Fort Wayne
Unitarian Universalism Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne
Song Maestro Robert Nance, Members of Heartland Chamber Chorale and
University of Saint Francis Singers
Litany Adapted from Jack Riemer, Likrat Shabbat, by Rev. Dr. Terry Anderson
Rev. Dr. Terry Anderson, Interfaith Hospitality Network
Rev. Kenneth Christmon, Turner Chapel AME; Diversity & Multi-Cultural Affairs, IPFW
Debby Beckman, YWCA Northeast Indiana
Rev. Saharra Bledsoe, Fort Wayne/Allen County NAACP
Rev. Arianne Lehn, First Presbyterian Church
Imam Nuh Abdullah, Universal Education Foundation
Heather Presley-Cowen, Housing and Neighborhood Services, City of Fort Wayne
Rev. Roger Reece, Associated Churches of Fort Wayne & Allen County
Prayer of St. Francis Dr. Carl Jylland Halverson, University of Saint Francis
Bodhisattva Prayer John Beams, Center for Nonviolence
Closing Song Director Marshall White, Voices of Unity
Sending Forth Dr. L. Michael Spath, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace; Religious Studies, IPFW