Heres a story that instantly belongs in the archives of Tempes colorful history. Its how the community Interfaith Thanksgiving service was rolling along until it came to the time to take the offering, for the passing of the plate, the receipt of the gifts of the people. But to everyones astonishment, no one came forth with offering plates because the church had none. There were not even ushers assigned for the task.Clergy and laity from 17 Tempe congregations took part in this years interfaith service on the eve of Thanksgiving at the Tempe Arizona Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at College Avenue and Alameda Drive. It is a great Tempe tradition going back to the early 1980s. Typically the special service has moved around from one house of worship to another. It is coordinated by clergy taking part in Tempe Emergency Assistance Ministry, or TEAM, which is made up of congregations that primarily work to meet wide need for food, shelter, transportation and other short-term emergency needs of the poor. The service brings together Jewish, Protestant, Islamic, Mormon, Independent Catholic, Salvation Army and others to set aside creeds, practices and differences for a night in the common American tradition of giving thanks in unity. Side benefits include experiencing rich elements of other religions like Rabbi Andrew Straus of Temple Emanuel blowing a piercing shofar in a sustained squawk or a Quaker, Anne Hardt, leading silent prayer. Mayor Hugh Hallman came forward to read his Tempe Thanksgiving Proclamation and to tell how the Indians around Tempe Butte interacted with the first white settlers in kind of the same tradition as the Plymouth Colony and the Indians of that region in 1620-21.While different clergy take segments of the full service, like the invocation, reading scriptures from the Torah, Christian Bible, Quran and the Book of Mormon, a childrens moment or benediction, one religious leader is selected out to deliver the sermon. This year, it was Sue Ringler of Guardian Angels Independent Catholic Church and a key organizer of the new Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program, or I-HELP, which arranges for various Tempe churches to feed and house about 20 or more homeless people for a night and ensure their safety and healthier living. Almost 20 years ago, TEAM recruited me to be the main speaker for the Thanksgiving Eve service when my church was hosting it. This year, as in past years, I sang in the combined choir. When it came to the time for the offering, the Rev. John Herman of Desert Palm United Church of Christ stood and gave a rousing call for people to give to help the poor through I-HELP, Tempe Community Action Agency and Tempe Salvation Army (personal disclosure: I have been president of the boards of the last two groups). Then our choir leader Gerald Ford, who ordinarily leads music at the Mormon Ward commanded we stand, and we proceeded to sing Because I Have Given Much.As I looked out at the religiously diverse audience, I saw no activity. No usher moved, no one came in from the halls. By the third and last verse, there was some stirring. First Stake President Lee Clegg go up off the podium and walked out. Suddenly other men left and came in carrying grocery sacks and a couple cardboard boxes including the box that I had brought food in for the food pantries. They had emptied the food out of them onto a table and turned them into collection containers. The organist replayed the hymn without the choirs participation as bags rather haphazardly were passed around for cash and checks. In the end, the Rev. Al Gephart of University Presbyterian Church got up and joined everyone in a great group Oops! and explained that some faith groups (like the Mormons) dont have a tradition of passing an offering plate around during services. So they simply didnt have any on hand, and no one on the planning team had foreseen it. So folks improvised and manifested their generosity anyway.TEAM MEMO: Next time the Mormons are hosts, another congregation needs to bring some plates and arrange for ushers. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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