BLOOMINGTON — This November, faith communities from across Bloomington will come together for an evening designed to celebrate shared values and unity.
The Interfaith Concert of Thanksgiving and Gratitude will take place at 6:00 p.m. on November 8 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, bringing together nine local faith communities for an evening of music, prayer, poetry, meditation, and fellowship.
Rooted in the idea that gratitude and giving create common ground, the event embraces diversity without requiring groups to conform to a single tradition. Each participating community will share an expression authentic to its own faith and practice, featuring choral and instrumental music, bell choirs, spoken word, meditation songs, and duets.
Participating faith communities include:
- The Bahá’í Faith Community
- Bloomington Friends Meeting
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Congregation Beth Shalom
- Fairview Methodist Church
- First Presbyterian Church
- Trinity Episcopal Church
- Unitarian Universalist Church
- Unity of Bloomington
Other local faith communities are also expected to attend.
“Nothing is more human than singing together. Nothing better reflects the vibrant uniqueness of each of our traditions, and the unity of spirit we share,” said Rabbi Noach Lawrence of Congregation Beth Shalom. “Psalm 150 concludes, ‘Let every soul praise the Eternal.’ This verse has a sacred pun in Hebrew: neshamah, ‘soul,’ comes from the same root as the word for ‘breath,’ reminding us that just as we all breathe, so too we all have equal dignity in using our breath to sing and praise the Eternal, according to what this means to each of us.”
Organizers hope the gathering will strengthen relationships across Bloomington’s diverse religious landscape, cultivate mutual respect, increase visibility for local faith groups, and support community members in need.
“Congregation Beth Shalom is excited to be a part of this way in which our communities can come together – a family reunion for the human family,” Rabbi Lawrence added. “We thank the Latter-day Saint community and the members of the Interfaith Concert Advisory Council for their vision, initiative, and tireless efforts to bring this project to life.”
Event Details
- When: November 8 at 6:00 p.m.
- Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington
- Format: A 90-minute concert featuring 8–15-minute presentations from each faith community, followed by refreshments and fellowship.
- Admission: Free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food to support the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.
- About the Interfaith Concert: Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and organized by the Interfaith Concert Advisory Council, the Interfaith Concert of Thanksgiving and Gratitude was created to build connections among Bloomington’s diverse religious organizations through music, expression, fellowship, and service.
