Unity funeral home brooklyn12/9/2023 ![]() We understand it: wars in Ukraine and issues and situations across the country that divide us on religious grounds. And today we are here because our theme is being United in New York City - not saying that we are going to not recognize the difficulty of the conversation that we are going to have. So, as I mentioned to you before, your dedication, your compassion, your spiritual leadership has been a source of inspiration to all of us as we strive to make a positive impact in our communities. And again, like I said to you before, what we're doing in New York City is unprecedented in serving our communities using our faith based program. To give a gift to every child under the age of 12 in our communities, for winter coats and for socks and for warm clothes.Īnd we're also looking for houses of worship to again open up your doors to apply to our faith-based program and our day program to be able to house migrants. ![]() To donate school supplies to children in all of our shelters. We are looking for you to help us with serving dinners to every shelter, domestic shelter, unhoused New Yorker shelters, migrant shelters. ![]() So,this year we're really looking forward to connect and collaborate with your agents, with your churches, your temples, synagogues, mosques, places of worship,, schools, hospitals, senior centers, local missions, food pantries, soup kitchens, colleges, universities, homeless shelters, parachurch ministries, all faith institutions, foundations, museums, health centers and other nonprofit organizations to assist in a massive operation to assure that we are going to support needy New Yorkers during this holiday season that is coming up. And if it is appropriate, would you give yourself a round of applause for the work that you are doing in New York City. So, I want to say, number one, we want to thank you so much for the work that you're going to do. And the work that you are doing, who someone today told me that they are housing migrants in their temples without any support from anyone, out of the goodness of your heart. It's going to be a long road for us as we even look at the influx of migrants who we are serving in this city, the most that is being done by any mayor in the United States of America, to be able to give them the dignity of service. ![]() And I think that tonight we are pausing in this difficult time in the world to be able to come together in a room of all different backgrounds and faiths to really work on this experiment of how do we work together, live together in New York City in spite of what is happening in the world.Īnd that's important to do tonight, and so we want to be an avenue and a vehicle to be able to have those tough discussions in the weeks ahead. When we think of the difficulties that we are facing in New York City and across the globe, day in and day out, you know, the mayor of New York City has the burden of the people on his shoulder, but I think as faith leaders, you have the burden of God. And I really want to take this opportunity to extend to you a heartfelt gratitude of all of the work that you have done. On behalf of Mayor Adams and our administration and the Office of Faith and Community Partnerships who is partnering tonight, I'm really honored to serve as the faith adviser to the Mayor and also the executive director of the Office of Faith and Community Partnership. Let's have a moment of collective prayer together in your tradition. Let's have the silence, and then let's have the prayer. So, first, we'd like to have a moment of silence and then, I'm going to ask all of you to pray collectively for all of the conflicts of our city, what we're facing today, and for the people who are in this room to carry the burden that God has given you to lead your people in your congregations, in your temples, your mosques, your synagogues - wherever you may serve - of the task of leading in time of difficulties. And so, our office - the Office of Faith Based and Community Partnerships that the Mayor signed as an executive order a year and a half ago is here to help and to assist with the vigorous dialogue as we face some long days ahead of us. And before I continue with my remarks, I would like to do two things: first, I would like to have a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist attack in Israel to recall the mind to the global conflicts around the world and the lives lost to these conflicts and wars.Īnd then the second thing, I would like to join in a collective prayer for all humanity to be able to work towards sustainable peace. I hope today finds you as well as you can be. As faith leaders of New York City, you have to be strong in your response. Pastor Gilford Monrose, Faith Advisor, Office of the Mayor: All right.
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