​

Since its inception in 1975, the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service has served as a cherished expression of shared gratitude, spiritual unity, and service to others. Initiated by Rev. Dr. Sidney Freeman of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte and Rabbi Harold Krantzler of Temple Beth El, this annual gathering was one of the earliest of its kind in the Southeast—bringing together people of diverse faith traditions to give thanks side by side. From the beginning, it was more than a service; it was a community statement of solidarity and mutual care.

 

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, hosted on a rotating basis by houses of faith throughout the county, the service grew to attract upwards of 1,500 attendees each year. It regularly featured vibrant musical collaborations—often including 200-member interfaith choirs—and highlighted the spiritual wisdom of many traditions. In keeping with its core values, the service consistently collected food and financial contributions for several local charities, including NourishUp (formerly Loaves & Fishes), Crisis Assistance Ministry, and MeckMIN itself.

 

Between 2010 and 2015, the service expanded in both size and depth of purpose. The 35th annual service in 2010, held at St. Paul Baptist Church, was themed “Sharing Divine Blessings at the Table of Diversity” and featured a specially-commissioned musical composition performed by a large interfaith choir. The following year, in 2011, Temple Beth El hosted the service, which included adult and children’s choirs and a powerful sermon titled “The Gratitude Factor” by Msgr. John McSweeney of St. Matthew Catholic Church. The 40th annual gathering, hosted by St. Paul Baptist Church in 2015, carried the theme “Wilderness & Hope”—continuing the tradition of drawing hundreds of people together in celebration and collective service. 

 

In the years that followed, the tone of the service became increasingly justice-centered. In 2016, following the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a special service at Providence Baptist Church drew an overflowing crowd seeking peace and reconciliation across lines of race, faith, and lived experience.

 

In both 2017 and 2019, the service was held at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, with the 2019 theme focusing on “A Time of Healing: Weaving a Tapestry of Faith.” In 2020, Temple Beth El hosted the service, offering a space for reflection and unity. In 2021, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional in-person gathering was put on hold. Recognizing the emotional and spiritual toll of that moment, MeckMIN offered a virtual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service that brought voices from many traditions into one online space. The service centered around the theme “The Art of Gratitude and the Heart of Healing.” Though physically apart, the community remained spiritually connected—a testament to the resilience and enduring power of interfaith relationships.

 

An Evolving Vision: From Thanksgiving to Friendsgiving

 

In recent years, as MeckMIN has deepened its commitment to equity, justice, and the full inclusion of all peoples and traditions, the traditional service began to evolve. While the Thanksgiving holiday carries deep meaning for many, it also evokes painful histories for some—particularly Indigenous communities. Recognizing this, and listening to the voices of its diverse members, MeckMIN began reimagining the event to better reflect the pluralism and lived realities of the broader community. In 2022, the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church focused on moving “Beyond Myth,” while continuing to feature diverse spiritual voices, with a special focus on Indigenous communities. The service included performances and reflections from artists and elders of the Catawba, Lumbee, and Tuscarora nations.

 

In 2023, despite careful planning and high anticipation, circumstances beyond the control of MeckMIN regrettably forced the service’s cancellation. 

 

Friendsgiving: A New Chapter of Belonging

 

In 2024, MeckMIN introduced a new format: the Mecklenburg Interfaith Friendsgiving. Held on November 21, 2024, the event brought together hundreds for a celebration rooted in our diverse and multicultural community—centered on community rather than ritual. It featured expressions of gratitude through music, spoken word, and dance from five different traditions; an art display from a sixth community; and a buffet featuring food from a seventh.

 

Interfaith Friendsgiving has now become an annual celebration. The 2025 gathering, hosted at Myers Park Baptist Church, will center on the themes of unity in diversity, gratitude, and shared humanity—offering space for people of all backgrounds to connect across differences. This evolving tradition honors the legacy of the original Thanksgiving services while opening new doors for participation, reflection, and community building in a way that reflects the vibrant diversity of Mecklenburg County today.

​

​