16th Annual Menorah Lighting
Faith Lutheran Church
On the evening of Tuesday, December 20, 2022, the third of the eight days of Hanukkah, Faith Lutheran Church in New Providence and the Jewish synagogues, Congregation Ohr Shalom/Summit Jewish Community Center and Temple Sinai of Summit, lit the third candle of the Menorah on the lawn of Faith. This was the sixteenth year that Faith and the synagogues have partnered in the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah at Faith.
The evening began with a welcome by Rev. Jane McCready, pastor of Faith, to the members of Congregation Ohr Shalom/Summit Jewish Community Center, Temple Sinai and Faith.
Rabbi Avi Friedman of Congregation Ohr Shalom responded with words of appreciation from the two synagogues to Pastor McCready and Faith for again hosting the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah in front of their church building.
Rabbi Friedman praised Pastor Mac (Rev. Dr. Murdoch MacPherson) who initiated the ceremonial lighting of the Menorah at Faith in Hanukkah 2007. Pastor Mac preceded Pastor Jane at Faith.
Accompanying the Menorah on Faith’s lawn was a sign, “In Celebration with our Jewish Brothers and Sisters.” During the Christmas season, close to the Menorah, was a manger, lying on straw within a small, open wooden stable. On early Christmas morning, a wrapped gift was placed in the manger. This represented the birth of Jesus, a gift from God to all people.
Christianity was born from the Jewish tradition.
As they have done in previous years, New Providence Mayor Al Morgan and his wife, Christine, attended the lighting ceremony.
Subsequently, everyone retreated from the cold to the education hall of Faith, where they enjoyed refreshments and visiting. Cantor Dr. Janet Ilene Roth of Congregation Ohr Shalom/Summit Jewish Community Center led singing of fun Hanukkah songs.
Cantor Roth concluded by thanking Pastor McCready for another annual lighting of the Menorah at Faith as well as for a welcoming and pleasant evening. Pastor McCready answered that Faith looks forward each year to the night it will light the Hanukkah Menorah on its front lawn.She added that Faith was honored that so many people from the Jewish community attended the ceremony tonight.
Courtesy photo
