Area churches to hold interfaith open house

LOGAN – Eight different churches in Cache Valley will open their doors to the public for an Interfaith Open House on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23 and 23. Wendy Neeley, a Syracuse University Law student and member of the J. Ruben Clark Law Society, is organizing the event as part of her studies.

Neeley, a Utah State University graduate and longtime Cache Valley resident, reached out to Cache Community Connections and a bit of family and friends to get the event off the ground. Nicole Luth designed the website and helped get the website and other behind-the-scene tasks done.

“I’ve had this idea for quite a while and I’m so excited to see it come together,” she said. “I want the community to recognize the benefits of religious worship and there are a lot of different faiths doing good things. The different churches can benefit by supporting each other.”

The idea is to have the different churches open their doors to the public for a one-hour block and welcome the public to learn about their beliefs through a short 15-minute informal discussion. At the end of the discussion, participants may be invited to join in prayer or listen to a short message.

Participating churches include St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church, Logan Jewish Community, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Cache Valley Unitarian Universalists, St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“I hope this event will benefit our community in several ways. First, it will allow others to see the religious diversity in the valley and build bridges of understanding and mutual respect,” she said. “Regardless of our faith, our community is strengthened when we understand the beliefs of those around us.”

There is a tendency not to talk to others about their beliefs or our own beliefs.

“Our hesitancy might be because we don’t want to offend anyone, or we may feel uncomfortable asking questions because we don’t understand their beliefs, structures, or terminology,” Neeley said. “This event will allow the community to learn the basics of different religious beliefs so that they will be more comfortable having conversations with their friends and neighbors about faith in ways that build understanding and friendship.”

The open house is an excellent opportunity to look past the divisions found in the world today and an opportunity for parents to teach their children that others may think differently or believe differently, but others still have values, thoughts, and beliefs that should be respected.

“Scientific studies show that religious experiences lead to increased mental health, more stable marriages, better economic success, and higher overall life satisfaction,” she said. “Religion can also help individuals better deal with tragic events in life. These benefits come partly from having a social support network and clear moral guidelines.”

In Cache Valley, religious groups offer programs that benefit community members in many ways. Government agencies would have a hard time duplicating the services with the same compassion.

“Churches in the community offer the Loaves and Fishes program, the WAB Warming Center, the Pride House, faith transition groups, free English lessons, and the Hope Community Garden, just to name a few,” Neeley said. “These benefits from religions come as a result of religious liberty – if religion is restricted, it has a significant impact not just on religious individuals but also on the many ways religious groups support the community.”

Carol Foht the chairperson of the Tabernacle Interfaith Committee from Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church said this is a great opportunity for her church to clarify some of the things people believe.

“For instance, some people believe we worship statues,” she said. “The statues we honor remind us of the people they represent.”

Foht said they plan to show the different Stations of the Cross or a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The stations area a traditional processional route symbolizing the path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary.

Wayne Dymock from the Bear River Communication Council for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said he hopes the community will embrace the open houses.

“I hope the community will take this opportunity and get to know the beliefs of our fellow religions,” he said. “Wendy had the original idea, and we have been working with her to make it happen.”

They were hoping to have 16 different faiths participate, but in the end, they could only get eight to sign up.

Dymock, a former mission president for his church, said he wished the missionaries he oversaw would have had an opportunity like this before they served missions.

“Many of our missionaries had never attended other churches and they don’t know what other faiths believe,” he said. “Just to walk into the sanctuary of a church and see the wonderful stained glass and to see what good people they are. Then to have a vicar explain their doctrine.

“I would have liked all of my missionaries to have that basic introduction to other faiths, so it was not a shock a to their system when they are talking to people from other faiths. These are good people, and we are all trying to do good things.”

The participating churches will not be holding a worship service or trying to convert new members. They are simply welcoming the public to learn more. Organizers ask the public to show courtesy and respect by refraining from sharing their beliefs unless asked or arguing with those sharing their views.

To cap off the open house Cache Community Connection will hold an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service the public is invited to on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 725 S. 250 E. Hyde Park.

For more information go to https://www.cvinterfaith.com click on a image of a church to find the time of their open house.