Newtown’s Interfaith Clergy Association has announced plans for an Interfaith Gathering for Prayer and Comfort to take place on Sunday, December 14, the second anniversary of 12/14.

“As faith leaders, we come from a variety of religious communities that are diverse in faith and practice. However, we want you to know that we are united in our commitment to offer care and compassion to all of Newtown,” members of the association said via e-mail December 8.

The interfaith gathering will be at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street. It will begin at 6 pm.

Faith leaders from the various Newtown religious communities will guide the community by reading from their respective sacred texts, offering prayers for the community, and allowing for times of silence for each individual to reflect and/or pray in his or her own way. All are welcome.

Parking will be available in the parking lot behind Trinity Church, 36 Main Street, and at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street.

For more information, call 203-426-9024.

Members of The Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association are John and Margo Woodall of Baha’i Community of Newtown; Reverend Rob Morris, Christ the King Lutheran Church; Rabbi Shaul Praver, Congregation Adath Israel; Reverend Kathy Adams-Shepherd, Trinity Episcopal Church; Monsignor Robert Weiss, senior pastor, St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church; Reverend Leo McIlraith, The Lutheran Home of Southbury; Pastor Tim Kuhn, Faith at Newtown; Reverend Jack Tanner, Newtown Christian Church; Deen Kemsley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Reverend Jim Solomon and Hiram Orama, Jr, New Hope Community Church; Eman Beshtawii, Al Hedaya Islamic Center; Reverend Mel Kawakami, Newtown United Methodist Church; and Reverend Matt Crebbin and Reverend Caroline Hamilton-Arnold, Newtown Congregational Church, UCC.

Faith Communities Plans

In addition to the gathering at the meeting house, many locations will be hosting worship and other gatherings.

“It is our hope that one or some of these gatherings might be helpful to many of you as we all continue to grieve, seek support and find comfort on this journey of sorrow and hope,” the religious leaders continued in their e-mail. “We also want to let you know that each of us is available and committed to assist anyone, as best we are able, if you have specific individual needs or concerns.”

Al-Hedaya Islamic Center, 115 Mt Pleasant Road: Sunday at 10 am — The morning will start with a prayer for all of the families who lost a loved one on 12/14 and for those who were lost that day, followed by a 30-minute lecture about violence awareness by our Imaam Brother Jesse.

Community brunch will be served at 11 am.

From noon until 4 pm Al-Hedaya will offer free henna tattoos, bangles (bracelets), exotic teas from all over the world and food for Newtown families to help them with the healing process and celebrate life with us.

Christ the King Lutheran Church, 85 Mt Pleasant Road (203-426-6300): Sunday at 9:30 am, all ages will be invited to decorate cookies and posters for all the Newtown schools, Board of Education and Newtown Police Department.

Divine Service at 10:30 am will include a Children’s Christmas Pageant of Lessons and Carols.

At 6 pm Maggie and Newtown Comfort will greet attendees arriving for the Interfaith Prayer Gathering.

Christ the King Lutheran Church will also host its own Service of Prayer and Remembrance, at 7 pm.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 16 Saw Mill Road (203-270-7684): The afternoon’s regular service at 1 pm  will remember through prayer and sacred hymns.

Faith at Newtown, 4 Riverside Road (lower level, 203-364-1448): During Sunday’s morning worship service at 10 am, Faith at Newtown will have a time of silence and reflection, with prayer for the two-year anniversary.

Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street (203-426-9024): NCC’s 10 am worship will include music, prayer and the lighting of candles to remember, comfort and encourage one another as attendees continue to seek the hope, peace and joy offered by the coming Immanuel.

Immediately following that gathering there will be a time for fellowship (with special guests Fidelco Dogs) and refreshments in the church’s Great Room.

The sanctuary will be open all day for personal prayer and reflection.

Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road (203-426-9998): with services at 8 and 10 am on 12/14, the third Sunday of Advent, there will be praying for all those affected in a litany of remembrance during each service.

St Rose Roman Catholic Church, 46 Church Hill Road (203-426-1014): St Rose will be remembering the community in all its aspects at all Masses this weekend — Saturday, December 13, at 4 and 5:30 pm, and Sunday, December 14, at 7:30, 9, 10:30 am, noon and 5 pm. Sunday’s 10:30 Mass will be the special remembrance Mass. Names will be read prior to Mass and bells tolled.

The Franciscan Bells of Remembrance will be brought from Washington, DC, once again and will be available to be rung throughout the weekend by anyone who chooses to stop by. Weather permitting, a candle grove will be set up in front of the Mary shrine for those who wish to stop and light a candle.

Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street (203-426-9070): There will be one service at 10 am Sunday, which will include prayer, music, silence, Eucharist and the lighting of candles for remembrance and comfort. The service will also include the celebration of Gaudete Sunday on the Third Sunday of Advent.

All families and individuals present will leave with a candle to put in their windows to continue to shine God’s light into the world. The service will be followed by a potluck breakfast together with comfort dogs, music and art therapies for children and youth.

The church will be open all day for prayer.

Newtown Christian Church, 210 Sugar Street (203-426-6189): There will be time set aside during the 10 am worship service to remember and pray for the families and town.