All in Good Faith

Author(s): Jean Potter, Marcus Braybrooke
Publisher: World Congress of Faiths

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All in Good Faith
bring to those multi-faith prayer services where everyone contributes from their tradition on a given theme than the fixed daily Jewish liturgy. Liberal, Reform and some Orthodox Jews are happy to take part in such services. All Jews except the ultra-Orthodox, including some who might find it difficult to take part in a multi-faith event, are happy to welcome non-Jews to synagogue services. Regular Christian services may not be so easy; for instance the custom in some churches of adding the words 'Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit' at the end of the Psalms is offensive to Jews. While the Lord's prayer is not intrinsically problematic, and indeed articles have been written connecting it to Jewish liturgy, most Jews will feel that these words have become such a statement of Christian identity that they would prefer not to say them. It is also worth bearing in mind that a service planned to be non-denominational, with specifically Christological references removed, may still have the flavour of a Christian service to Jews because of its cultural form for instance standing up to sing hymns from the church hymn book and their wish to be present but not to participate actively should not be taken as a rejection. It should also be borne in mind that while Friday and Saturday may seem ideal days for meetings or interfaith services, Jews who would be quite happy to participate on another date, will not feel this to be an appropriate activity on the Sabbath.
The Reform Forms of Prayer for Jewish Worship include a special Prayer for Interfaith Meetings.
Lord of all creation, we stand in awe before You, impelled by visions of the harmony of man. We are children of many traditions inheritors of shared wisdom and tragic misunderstandings, of proud hopes and humble successes. Now it is time for us to meet in memory and truth, in courage and trust, in love and promise.
In that which we share, let us see the common prayer of humanity; in that in which we differ, let us wonder at the freedom of man; in our unity and our differences, let us know the uniqueness that is God.
May our courage match our convictions, and our integrity match our hope.
May our faith in You bring us closer to each other.
May our meeting with past and present bring blessing for the future. Amen.
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