A community dinner, interfaith service and delivering meals to the needy are three staples of Thanksgiving in Malibu.
By Paula Kashtan / Special to The Malibu Times
Every community celebrates Thanksgiving with its own special twist, and Malibu is no different. These three long-standing traditions continue Thursday, offering Malibuites the chance for both community and charity on the holiday known for thankfulness.
Interfaith Service
Every year, an interfaith service is held at a different Malibu congregation. This Thanksgiving, the service is scheduled for 10 a.m. at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.
“It’s probably the one time in the whole year that all the various faith leaders come together for worship,” the Reverend Joyce Stickney of St. Aidan’s said. “It’s really a beautiful service.”
Stickney said the interfaith service has been a tradition for more than ten years. Eight congregations normally attend, though this year two will be missing for various reasons. She expects anywhere from 70 to 100 people to attend the service.
The service lasts about an hour, and starts with a reading of the day’s presidential proclamation by a member of the city council. Scriptures are then read in Hebrew and English by Rabbi Judith HaLevy, and the Christian scriptures are read by Father Bill Kerze. This year, Al Sturgeon is giving the sermon. He is the executive director of the Malibu Community Labor Exchange, as well as an elder of the University Church of Christ.
Prayers at the service include one from Abraham Lincoln and another from Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as a benediction from the Mohawk and Navajo tradition. Religious leaders from all over Malibu will lead these prayers.
This year, there will also be a singing ensemble of laborers from the Malibu Community Labor Exchange. The collection gathered at the service is donated to the Malibu Community Labor Exchange.
Community Dinner
Malibu United Methodist Church and the Jewish Community Center join together to put on the 15th annual community dinner. The dinner is served after the rotating interfaith service, which takes place this year at St. Aidan’s.
About 300 people eat during the first serving, including labor exchange families and people in the community who are homeless or hungry. The second serving is for residents of Camp Kilpatrick, a youth detention camp. About 10 to 20 boys come to that meal. Music is also provided by the local schools and a mariachi band, as well as craft activities and haircuts. Each family receives a gift bag with shampoo and other hygiene products.
Much of the work for the dinner is done by local youth.
“There are a few families that help coordinate, but really, it’s the kids who put everything together,” coordinator Janet Ettenger said. “I feel like half of this dinner is to serve people who are hungry, and half is giving people?-especially children-a way to give back on the holiday. We’re really giving to both sides of the community here.”
Community families donate all the food for the dinner.
“Every turkey and every pie is cooked in someone’s house,” Ettenger said. “Nothing comes from a restaurant.”
She estimates that they go through about 20 big turkeys and 10 hams. The aim is to send everyone home with a plate full of food and a gift bag.
Those interested in participating may contact Janet Ettenger at 310-435-6543. The biggest needs for the day are food and personal hygiene items for the gift bags.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels makes deliveries every week of the year, Monday through Thursday, with meals for Thursday through the weekend usually sent frozen. This isn’t the case on Thanksgiving, though.
“For Thanksgiving, every client gets a hot, traditional spread with turkey, mashed potatoes and all the other classic foods,” Chelsey Allodi, spokesperson for Meals on Wheels said. Malibu Meals on Wheels is part of the west district, which just received extra funding that helps make more giving possible, Allodi said. It’s not just about the food, though.
“So many people benefit from the social interaction when the volunteer drops off the food,” Allodi said. “There are a lot of elderly clients, and they get more than just meals.”
To get involved with Meals on Wheels, visit www.mealsonwheelswest.org.