Newtown Interfaith Council (NIC) finalized plans for its annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Gathering, and continued discussing the annual 12/14 Service of Remembrance, during its November 12 meeting at Trinity Episcopal Church.

The annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Gathering will be held Sunday, November 24, at 2 pm, at Sticks and Stones Farm, 201 Huntingtown Road. It is open to all Newtown residents.

Newtown Congregational Church Lead Pastor Matt Crebbin, who led the meeting, said the annual Thanksgiving gathering is meant to be a place for people across all faiths to join together and support each other through conversation and prayer, and this year’s will be no different. The Council will lead everyone in a time of prayer and reflection. Attendees are also encouraged to bring prayers, readings, and reflections focused around Thanksgiving and building community.

“The idea isn’t just to have us go, ‘Here’s our stuff,’ and that’s it,” Crebbin said. “We want to make time for conversation and reflection, for everyone to connect with each other.”

NIC members ultimately landed on the theme of “Nourishing Community” for this year’s gathering. According to Crebbin, the theme ties into celebrating the community and exploring how they can “nourish” each other’s lives individually and collectively. These ideas of nourishment, giving back to the community, and sharing words of strength and support also tie into common Thanksgiving traditions like giving thanks.

Depending on the number of attendees, Crebbin said he hopes everyone will work together in a big circle and discuss what community means to them, what nourishes them, and how they can continue supporting the community.

December Service Of Remembrance

NIC also continued planning for the annual 12/14 Service of Remembrance, a public gathering where community members can honor and remember those who died 12 years ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The date for the service is still up in the air. During its October 22 meeting, NIC members discussed the fact December 14 lands on a Saturday this year. When December 14 previously fell on a Saturday, Crebbin said, the service was offered the previous evening. As a result, the group acknowledged they would need to reach out to local schools to see how they will proceed before cementing anything. Crebbin said he had reached out to Superintendent of Schools Anne Uberti and was waiting to hear from her to begin those plans.

NIC members also decided at the October meeting to hold the 12/14 Service of Remembrance at Trinity Episcopal Church, but those plans may change.

Trinity Church Rector Reverend Andrea Castner-Wyatt said she and others have been hoping for a long time to renovate one of the building’s bathrooms. As it turns out, the contractors are coming to renovate the bathroom the same week as the service is set to be held.

Castner-Wyatt said should the service be held on Saturday morning, the logistics would not be a problem because guests could be directed to the bathrooms on the lower level. If the service is held on Friday, however, when Trinity Day School will be in session, that could be a challenge because the church tries to not cross into that space when classes are in session.

According to Castner-Wyatt, the contractors are scheduled to begin their work on Monday, December 9.

“We think they’re going to be gone by the end of the week, but we can’t say for sure,” Castner-Wyatt said. “So we may or may not have a bathroom. We’re actually just unsure of how long it might take.”

She then asked if the group should plan to choose elsewhere this year, just to be secure with its location. Crebbin said Newtown Congregational Church would be happy to host as well, but pointed out that the 12/14 Service of Remembrance typically does not run long and that they want to keep it reasonably compact.

“For the most part, we’ve done that service here, so there’s familiarity with the location, too,” Crebbin continued.

Crebbin said that the superintendent and the first selectman have traditionally touched base with the NIC close to the date of the 12/14 service. He suggested NIC wait until it’s closer to the date of the event before moving forward with a concrete location.

Regardless of location, the 12/14 Service of Remembrance will involve simple music, candlelight, silence, prayer, scripture, and tolling the bells.

“People can come forward and have time for individual expression, like a chance where they can light candles or do whatever else they need to,” Crebbin said. “It’ll allow people to personally remember and honor them in their own way.”

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.