Clergy and other leaders who prayed/spoke at this “Multi-faith Prayer Service” included Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno Vicar General Charles T. Durante, First Congregational Church of Reno Pastor Richard L. Smith, Northern Nevada Muslim Community President Sherif A. Elfass, Universal Society of Hinduism President Rajan Zed, Reno Buddhist Center Staff Priest Shelley L. Fisher, North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation & Temple Beth Or Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer, Baha’i teacher Roya Galata, Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church Reno Presiding Priest Stephen R. Karcher, Carson City Stake President of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints David A. Haws and Sparks Mayor Geno R. Martini.United States (US) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, US Senator Dean Heller and US Congressman Mark E. Amodei sent signed testimonials recognizing/commending the Service. Heller’s Certificate read: “In honor and recognition of celebrating our States 150thAnniversary by coming together to build a foundation of culture appreciation that will last for generations to come”. Zed, in his welcome address, stressed the need of dialogue among religions for global harmony.
Two eight-years-old native Nevadans—Grace M. McGuffin & Jett G. Lehmann—read a non-denominational prayer for Nevada; and the clergy, other leaders and the audience rose and repeated after them.This Multi-faith Prayer Service as a part of Nevada Sesquicentennial Celebrations, starting with “lamp lighting” ceremony, also included Shinto prayer via Taiko drumming by Tsurunokai Taiko directed by Rieko Shimbo, “My Country Tis of Thee” by Mormon Carson City Nevada Stake Choir directed by Brenda Y. Laurie, prayer through Kachhapi Veena by Thakur Chakrapani Singh accompanied by Peter Fairley on tabla, and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Champagne Singers directed by Leslie Alice Fudge. Andi Guevara, anchor for CBS backed Channel two of Reno, was the emcee.
On October 31, 1864, Nevada became the 36th state to enter the union of the United States of America. Nevada’s Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of Nevada’s admission to the Union, includes yearlong celebrations.
