Multi-faith prayers ring in New Year in Reno
In an all-emcompassing gesture of global peace and goodwill, a celebration among Northern Nevada religious faithful came together in Reno late Wednesday, New Year's Eve, to celebrate the ringing in of 2015.
Coordinated by religious statesman Rajan Zed, “Multi-faith New Years’ Eve Service” hosted by Reno Buddhist Center included prayers by Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha’i and Native American leaders.
Religious leaders who prayed included Seventh Day Adventist pastor Omar A. Palmer, Muhammed A. Quddus of Muslim community, Hindu leader Rajan Zed, Buddhist priests Matthew T. Fisher and Shelley L. Fisher, Jewish rabbi Elizabeth W. Beyer, Baha’i teacher Bradley S. Corbin, American Indian spirituality scholar Brian E. Melendez, Mormon elder David L. Mathis and June Canak of Unification Church. Jim R. Eaglesmith sang multi-faith musical medley, Spirit Singers headed by Leslie Alice Fudge delivered “Turn, Turn, Turn”, while Laurie Martin lead a team of drummers.
There was no “cover charge” for this Service where all were welcome and which ended at midnight with drum beats and ringing of bells.
Prayers were a more appropriate way to welcome the New Year to our lives than gambling and drinking in the casinos and bars, Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out. They intended to make this Service an annual feature, thus bringing diverse religions together to pray for joy and love in the lives of all in the upcoming year, Zed added.
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Some of the religious leaders who participated in this Service, from left to right, are: Shelley L. Fisher, Elizabeth W. Beyer, Matthew T. Fisher, Bradley S. Corbin, Jim R. Eaglesmith, Rajan Zed, Brian E. Melendez, David L. Mathis, Alice Tolloch, Omar A. Palmer and Muhammed A. Quddus.