SFIC Thanksgiving Interfaith Prayer Breakfast

Nov 28, 2023 | #DidYouKnow, #Stories

Story and photos by the Rev. Canon Debbie Low-Skinne

[Monday, November 21] Hundreds of faith and civic leaders packed the large ballroom of the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco’s Japantown last week for the first in-person Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast since 2019. Hosted by the San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC), this year’s breakfast recognized the thirty-fifth year of the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program, which is jointly operated by the SFIC, Episcopal Community Services (ECS), and the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

Special guests included House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed, and SFIC founder Rita Semel, who is still going strong at 102 years old. Attendees also included State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott, City Attorney David Chiu, and many members of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors.

As in the past, the Diocese of California sponsored a table to support the SFIC’s Winter Shelter Program. Our representatives included Bishop Marc Andrus, Canon Stephanie Martin Taylor, and the Rev. Canon Debbie Low-Skinner. Other Episcopal sponsors included Episcopal Community Services (ECS) and Grace Cathedral. The Very. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young, the Rev. Canon Anna Rossi, the Very Rev. Eric Metoyer, and the Rev. Nancy Pennekamp were among the other Episcopal clergy in attendance.

Bishop Marc and other clergy who support and host the Winter Shelter were recognized with certificates. At the conclusion of the breakfast, Bishop Marc and Rabbis Jonathan and Beth Singer of Congregation Emanu-El, who are all retiring next year, were presented with silver SFIC pins. SFIC Executive Director Michael G. Pappas commended them on their many years of leadership in their faith communities, their support of the SFIC, and their service to the greater San Francisco community.

In Bishop Marc’s acceptance speech, he gave heartfelt thanks to his wife, Dr. Sheila Moore Andrus, for being his loving partner in life and in his environmental justice work throughout their 44 years of marriage. He encouraged the crowd to drop the idea that San Francisco is in a “bubble” and out of touch. He said we should think instead that we are all in an egg being mutually nurtured and prepared to give birth to new and wondrous things for the benefit of all in SF and beyond.

More about the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program

The Winter Shelter Program is held at the following host sites: the ECS Canon Kip Senior Center, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, the First Unitarian Universalist Church of SF, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. Volunteers from various churches serve to staff the shelter, where beds and meals are provided for the night. The shelter runs from November through March. Congregations interested in volunteering or providing meals can contact Paige Hosking at paige.hosking@gmail.com.