Fellowship of faiths

A Martinez church will play host Sunday to a service of thanksgiving featuring three of the world's great religions.

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Leaders of the Islamic Society of Augusta, Congregation Children of Israel, Greater Faith Baptist Church and Church of Our Savior have come together to hold a Tri-Faith Service of Thanksgiving to unify members of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths at 7 p.m. Sunday. The service will be held at Church of Our Savior, located at 4227 Columbia Road.

The service will be divided into sections. The evening will include readings from the holy texts of each religion, as well as music and prayer from each faith, said Church of Our Savior Deacon Linda Scales.

The service of thanksgiving is open to persons of any faith with the hope it will help unify the region, said the Rev. Gregory Young of Greater Faith Baptist.

"This (service) is important because it's not just good for the faith community, it's good for our city," Young said.

Rabbi Robert Klensin, whose Congregation Children of Israel played host to last year's event, said the time around the Thanksgiving holiday is "natural time" for a service of this type.

"It's an opportunity to come together, pray together and learn about each other," he said.

Young, Klensin, the Rev. Lou Scales of Church of Our Savior and Imam Majed Sabke of the Islamic Society of Augusta, who together will lead the service, echoed each other saying it is an opportunity to show the commonalities of each faith.

"It's a part of my belief and a part of my faith to be thankful to God constantly," the Imam said.

Religious leaders ask that attendees bring donations of non-perishable food, which will be donated to Golden Harvest Food Bank.