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BY LINDA WORTHINGTON
UMCONNECTION STAFF

When communities celebrate New Year’s, it’s usually with champagne, parties, funny hats and raucous behavior. But not so for Eastport UMC.

For the third year, the congregation welcomed the Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network, a coalition of faith representatives in the Annapolis area, in a different kind of New Year's Eve.

Members of different faith groups – including Catholic, Protestant, Quaker, Unitarian, Judaism, Muslim, Baha'i and Buddhist – gathered Dec. 31 to memorialize the old year and celebrate the arrival of 2011. Civic and local groups, including the city of Annapolis Police Department, Eastport Civic Association, Annapolis Middle School, Light House shelter, Hospice of the Chesapeake and the Hispanic community also participated in the interfaith service.

Prior to the 7 p.m. service, a half hour of music was performed. It alternated between live music and recorded artists and spanned a wide range of music styles and faith communities. As the congregation listened to an original piano composition, a Gregorian chant, a Shaker song, and recordings of Buddhist, Islamic or Baha'i music, they responded with respectful and thoughtful silence as they considered the words.

The Rev. MaAn Barcelo, pastor of Eastport UMC, organized the worship service and welcomed the 150 guests. The theme of the evening was quickly apparent – finding common ground despite different religious traditions and rejoicing in the diversity. With so many religions present, and with so many different cultures, the desire to honor others' differences and celebrate similarities was uplifting and encouraging, she said.

The opening call to prayer was offered by Mohamed Ibrahim of the Islamic Society of Annapolis. In Arabic, he intoned, "God is the greatest" ending with "There is no God but God." Translations were printed in the program but words were not necessary to understand the desire to find the spiritual center.

Throughout the service, prayers and songs were offered in Hebrew, Spanish, Latin, Japanese and Arabic. The Rev. John Crestwell Jr., of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, delivered the message, reflecting on the theme of common ground in the midst of diversity.

"Bridge the gaps between our religions," he said. "Transcend what divides us."

He also spoke of "the amazing power we have when we work together."

Twice as many people attended the service as last year and together they raised their voice in the closing song. Despite many languages and many faiths, the sentiment, "a song of peace for their land and for ours," was universal.

After the service, folks gathered in the church's fellowship hall for refreshments and conversation, which focused on one thing – their desire for harmony. Kalim Hanna of the Annapolis Baha'i Group explained that "religious unity is very important" in his religion.

Ibrahim, who offered the opening prayer, said that his motivation in participating was to "share his religion with others and learn about theirs." He also urged "respect for each other's religious beliefs."

Some expressed curiosity about what an interfaith service would be like, while Sherrie Little of Eastport UMC confessed to some "hesitation" about attending a service that was not entirely Christian. By the time she left, she was pleased. "It reminded me that we are all God's children, created in (God’s) image," she said.

Pleased with the turnout, the worship service and the unity of spirit, Barcelo said Eastport UMC would be more than happy to host the group again next year.

This story has been edited from the original, which first appeared Jan. 3, 2011, on http://greaterannapolis.patch.com. It was written by Barbara Krebs.