Tercentennial Year Opens With A Worship Service

By Shannon Hicks

Representatives of many of Newtown’s faith communities led a Tercentennial Prayer Service on Sunday, January 16, at Newtown Congregational Church. It was the first major event of a year that will celebrate the 300th anniversary of Newtown’s founding. It was also a call by members of the town’s clergy to remember that different religions do not need to lead to religious differences.

“We may use different terms, we may have different names for our gods, but we all have the same basic beliefs,” said Dan Cruson during his opening remarks.

NCC was selected to host the service, said the Revered Bob Weiss, the pastor of St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, because the congregational church is the oldest among the town’s churches. Father Bob handled much of the planning for the service.

“Each church was asked to submit something from their tradition to present at this service,” Father Bob explained. “This service was then structured so that each segment is reflective of each person’s tradition.”

In addition to Father Weiss, participating on Sunday were the Reverend Steve Gordon, pastor of Newtown Congregational Church, and NCC Associate Minister Janice Touloukian; Reverend Kathleen Adams-Shepherd, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church; Rabbi Shaul Praver, Congregation Adath Israel; Reverend Robert Harris, Christ the King Lutheran Church; Reverend Jack Tanner, Newtown Christian Church; Reverend Milan Dimic and Reverend John Inserra, parochial vicars at St Rose of Lima; and Revered Terry Pfeiffer, pastor of Newtown United Methodist Church.

Dan Cruson, Newtown’s town historian and the chairman of Newtown Tercentennial Commission, offered opening remarks.

“Newtown is one of the few towns that still has a strong sense of community,” said Mr Cruson. “It is wonderful to see so many religions worshiping under one roof today. It’s heartwarming to see so many celebrating.”

Before leading the gathering hymn, Reverend Gordon also offered a few remarks, including the mention that a religious service held 300 years ago would most like run for at least two hours.

“I am happy to report to you that this will not be a two-hour service,” he quickly added, which received some laughter from the large gathering.

“In that time,” he continued, referring to the early 1700s, “we would never have seen so many religions gathering together. But thank goodness we are living in a time of more religious — and racial — tolerance. As we prepare to observe the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, it’s important to remember that the seeds have been planted for a peaceful future.”

The 30-minute service included an opening prayer led by the Reverend Adams-Shepherd, a reading from the Old Testament by Rabbi Praver, a Scripture reading by the Reverend Harris, a reading from the New Testament by the Reverend Tanner, and intercessory prayers led by the Reverends Weiss, Touloukian, Dimic, and Inserra. Reverend Gordon led the Benediction.

Hymns included “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” and “How Great Thou Art.” Philip Crevier was the pianist.

Before leading the afternoon’s closing prayer, Reverend Pfeiffer reminded the group that “we have more in common in our faiths than our differences.”

Reverend Weiss also made note of the town’s multiplicity.

“We really are blessed with the diversity of religions in this town,” he said. “I think it’s a real credit to the Tercentennial Commission that they began this year’s celebrations with a religious service. Our [religious] communities have played such a large part of this town’s history.”

Attendees were each given bulletins that included not only the order of the service, but histories of the churches that chose to offer them. Father Weiss had sent invitations to all of the town’s 15 faith communities, he said, and those who responded were included in the bulletin. Although not in the bulletin, Rabbi Praver provided a brief oral history of Congregation Adath Israel during his presentation.

The histories were presented in chronological order, Father Weiss explained. Beginning with Newtown Congregational Church (founded 1714), the bulletin also included information on Trinity Episcopal Church (1732), St Rose (1756), Newtown United Methodist Church (1800), Community Orthodox Presbyterian Church (1812), St John’s Episcopal Church (1868), Christ the King (1960), Newtown Christian Church (1965), and Grace Christian Fellowship (1984).

Newtown’s yearlong tercentennial celebration will continue with a Tercentennial Gala on February 5, an old-fashioned ice skating event at Hawley Pond, a tour of the town’s historic cemeteries, a program on 300 years of farming and gardening, a musical celebration of the town’s history, events at all of the town’s public schools, the release of a children’s coloring book, a fireworks display, a weekendlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of Edmond Town Hall, and much more.

In addition, the 2005 Newtown Tercentennial Calendar was released last month, and a beard-growing contest began earlier this month.