LIHU‘E — An interdenominational day of prayer at a Po‘ipu home that was announced only through word of mouth nearly outdrew the Christian National Day of Prayer event at the Lihu‘e Civic Center Mo‘ikeha Building on Thursday. Dr. Monroe Richman,
LIHU‘E — An interdenominational day of prayer at a Po‘ipu home that was announced only through word of mouth nearly outdrew the Christian National Day of Prayer event at the Lihu‘e Civic Center Mo‘ikeha Building on Thursday.
Dr. Monroe Richman, who is Jewish, was miffed when he was apparently told he could not speak at the Christian National Day of Prayer event in Lihu‘e, so instead hosted his own interdenominational gathering at his Po‘ipu home, and around 30 people attended.
An estimated 50 people turned out for the lunch-hour Christian National Day of Prayer event in Lihu‘e.
“People of many faiths gathered in sunny Po‘ipu in observance of the National Day of Prayer,” Richman said in an e-mail. “The spiritual feeling was shared by all during the very-moving meeting.”
“We wanted to pray island-style,” said Jonathan Cender, the Po‘ipu event’s co-host. “We’re a mixed plate on Kaua‘i so it made sense to have an event where all faiths were welcome to participate,” said Cender.
A Hawaiian chant by Ilsa Priest began the celebration of the National Day of Prayer event at Po‘ipu, attended by people of many different religious faiths, Richman said.
The National Day of Prayer was established by the U.S. Congress 59 years ago, and is an annual event on Kaua‘i.
Hosted in the home of Esther and Monroe Richman and attended by 30 people, many commented on the diversity that exists on Kaua‘i with many faiths including Buddhist and Jewish as well as secular humanists, pantheists, spiritual, but non-religious, and atheists who were invited, said Richman and Cender.
Along with Christian prayer, there was Jewish prayer, a Hawaiian oli, and affirmations of life and Kaua‘i “and our shared humanity. Some tears of emotion (were shed) with the powerful words. A real mixed plate,” said Cender.
As with the gathering in Lihu‘e, there was lots of gratitude expressed at the Po‘ipu event, for living on Kaua‘i, for example, shared through prayers and other forms of sharing, Cender said.
Also as in the Lihu‘e event, the Po‘ipu participants offered words of concern and support for the country, doing the right thing and building bridges, said Cender.
The common theme expressed throughout the Po‘ipu meeting was consistent with that expressed by Tom Paine, who said that “for liberty to exist there must be equality,” said Richman.
At the close of the affair, everyone agreed that this was an event they would like to attend annually so that the diversity of the island can be acknowledged, said Richman.
Those attending in Po‘ipu enjoyed tea, cookies and pupu.
