As the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel draws closer, a group of leaders from the Jewish, Islam, and Christian communities of Columbus are coming together to call for peace.

Leaders from many different faiths gathered at First Congregational Church on Sunday to show solidarity between different religions to show that people who believe different things can work together to pray for peace. Sr. Roberta Miller, OP, was among those who presented prayers and reflections.

Senior Minister Rev. Tim Ahrens, OPA, said the gathering of different religions comes at a time of division, both politically and religiously. It’s been his goal to bring the different faiths together for an interfaith service to try to begin healing between groups who have been pitted against each other with the war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza.

Presenters at the event included: The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister & President, The United Church of Christ; Zerqa Abid, MY Project USA; Rabbi Alex Braver, Congregation Tifereth Israel; Imran Malik, Safe Alliance for Interfaith Leaders; Rabbi Dr. Tali 'Zelkowicz, The Wexner Foundation; Sister Roberta Miller, Dominican Sisters of Peace; The Rev. Dr. Timothy C. Ahrens, Senior Minister, First Congregational Church, UCC; Gregory Duncan, First Church verger; Joshua Stafford, organist & director; The First Church Choir.

“I think we’ve all reached the point of exhaustion with the distress and the war that has gone in the Middle East, but also just the raging wars in Ukraine and beyond, so I think this was the moment and I’m glad we were able to come together,” Ahrens said.

“When we have interfaith dialogue and opportunities for prayer services like this for more peace prayers, it brings everybody together and it rectifies the misunderstanding and misconceptions that oftentimes people develop in their own silos,” interfaith leader Imran Malik said.

Click here for coverage of the event from NBC4 Columbus.