By Renee Stewart

Gathering around with friends and family.

Sharing offered foods.

Celebrating in thanksgiving.

Sound familiar?

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Third Annual Community Celebration of Thanksgiving is planned for 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, in the sanctuary of Pax Christi Catholic Community, 12100 Pioneer Trail.

The program celebrates the numerous faiths in the community and will showcase how each faith tradition gives thanks, according to Don Prestly, director of music ministry at Eden Prairie United Methodist Church.

The participating faith communities include: Adath Jeshurun Congregation, American Muslim Community Center, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eden Prairie United Methodist Church, Hindu Mandir of Minnesota, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pax Christi Catholic Community, Prairie Lutheran Church, St. Andrew Lutheran Church and Somali Muslim Community.

A one-hour program will include congregational singing, choral and handbell anthems, sacred readings and prayers from many faith traditions. It will be followed by a fellowship celebration. Artwork and sacred elements from the communities will be displayed, as well.

“Combined vocal choirs, handbell choirs and youth choirs will make the evening’s music lively and rich. The sharing by several different faith community members, of how we say thanks and build friendships, will focus on this year’s theme: ‘Who We Were,’ ‘Who We Are,’ and ‘Who We Are Becoming’,” according to the Pax Christi Web site.

Prestly said recognition of Eden Prairie’s 150th anniversary will be included in the theme celebration.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, a collection will be made during the celebration in support of PROP, Chanhassen and Eden Prairie’s emergency food shelf.

The program began three years ago with the idea that faith communities would take turns hosting the event at their locations. Little did organizers realize that the event would be such a success. The first event drew about 1,000 participants. As a result, the program is held at Pax Christi since it has ample seating and parking spaces and is in a familiar location.

Prestly anticipates the crowd numbers will surpass previous years, adding, “It’s really a neat time of people of all faiths and ethnicities getting together and sharing.”

Bringing the faith communities together under one roof is “really a wonderful time of gathering together,” Prestly noted. With the variety of faiths represented, the event hopes to showcase the wealth of diversity of faiths that the community shares.

“I think first of all it shows us how similar we are,” Prestly said, adding, “It’s a time to share, get to know each other and become a closer community.”

Choir rehearsal

Those who are high school age and older and want to sing with the combined adult choir are invited to the rehearsal at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Pax Christi Catholic Community. Music will be provided.