The Claremont Interfaith Council (CIC) will hold its 26th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Thanksgiving eve, Wednesday, November 23 at 7 p.m. at Claremont Presbyterian Church, 1111 N. Mountain Ave. in Claremont.

The CIC invites all residents of the Claremont community to gather to share gratitude for the bounties experienced as citizens of a nation founded on core principals of freedom and liberty, ideals that it believes are most clearly visible when people of diverse religious and spiritual traditions stand side-by-side to express them.

The service will feature keynote speaker Rev. Joel Fairley, pastor of First Baptist Church of Claremont, and will also include clergy and lay leaders from other faith communities in the Claremont area. A broad spectrum of music will be offered, including a multi-congregation choir directed by Janelle Anderson and the planned participation of area high school students. There will also be contemporary selections included and communal singing.

“Given the tensions in our area and throughout the country in these initial weeks following the presidential election, it seems particularly vital that we as a community come together and understand that the spiritual basis for the many values we share transcend partisan politics,” said Cantor Paul Buch of Temple Beth Israel. “We also benefit emotionally from the simple act of singing and worshiping as one community. I believe this service the evening before the holiday truly gives Thanksgiving Day the exact context in which it should be set.”

As has become the custom, an offering will be received at the gathering with the full proceeds going to Inland Valley Hope Partners in support of their emergency food assistance program.

For further information, contact Paul Buch at (909) 626-1277 or go to facebook.com/claremontinterfaithcouncil.