A Mosque And Church Join Together To Provide Food And Free Health Screenings To Those In Need
Jan 12, 2020 by apost team
Christmas is the time of year when people come together. Whether it be old friends or family you don't see often, Christmas gives everyone a reason to reconnect. In that spirit, a church and a mosque located in Long Island, New York, came together to spread the joy of the season.
On Christmas Day, Westbury United Methodist Church and the Islamic Center of Long Island joined together for a special dinner celebrating what their individual faiths have in common. In an interview with CBS News, Dr. Isma Chaudry of the Islamic Center said that those who have read the Christian Bible and the Muslim Qur’an know instantly that both religions prize love and peace above all else. Those who participated in the dinner say that religion should not separate people. Rather, they feel that faith is the key to acknowledging each other’s shared humanity.
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Rose Walker, a volunteer from Westbury United Methodist, told CBS News that with so much hate in the world, it is important that people see that families of different faiths can join together and have a joyous time.
In addition to celebrating the commonalities of the Christian and Muslim faiths, those who attend the event look forward to serving the community. Dr. Uzma Syed of the Islamic Center explained to CBS News that the event is open to anyone in the community. In addition to a hot meal, those in need have access to donated clothing and children’s toys as well.
Reverend Dr. Elon Sylvester, pastor of Westbury United Methodist, also told CBS News that serving the community is important as Jesus commanded his followers to love your neighbor, a sentiment that Imran Pasha of the Islamic Center says is also important in Islam.
Westbury United Methodist and the Islamic Center have actually had a partnership since 2004 but have only begun hosting their Christmas dinner in the past few years. Originally, the two houses of worship distributed turkeys to families in need. Leaders of both faiths were encouraged to host the Christmas dinner when it was brought to their attention that many of the families they were giving turkeys to did not have ovens to cook them in.
The 2019 Christmas dinner served 100 people with a hearty meal, reports CBS News. The 2019 dinner was even more special as the houses of worship also provided health screenings for those who cannot afford to regularly see doctors.
What do you think of how Westbury United Methodist Church and the Islamic Center of Long Island joined together to celebrate their commonalities and feed those in need?