[WATCH] Giving thanks prayer service

At the Giving Thanks Prayer Service on Monday morning, the Stuart community gathered together in Cor Unum to reflect on our many blessings and to express gratitude to the students, faculty and families who supported our annual food drive for Mt. Carmel Guild. The service opened with Emily Ix leading a prayer and introducing eighth graders Leila Hernández-Lewis and Madison Sylvan to explain the meaning of the traditional mandala that was created with the food drive donations. Sydney Amato and Margaret Lesinksi of the Upper School Outreach Committee then invited students and faculty to process into Cor Unum holding samples of the food items that were collected by grade level to put on display at the front of Cor Unum. In addition to celebrating our abundant blessings, today's service was an opportunity to honor Stuart's rich diversity and cultural traditions by having students and faculty read prayers in different languages (see the list below). The service concluded with a ceremonial spreading of the light. Members of Campus Ministry gave battery-operated tea lights to the audience to shine while candles were lit to represent each way that we, as a Stuart community, will work to shine light in the world. We closed the program by singing, "This Little Light of Mine" before exiting Cor Unum to see the finished food drive mandala prepared by the Outreach Committee. Enjoy a recording of the prayer service along with photos below.

 

We have many people to thank for making this tradition happen for Stuart: Thanks to Jacqueline Silva and Dominique Kucharczuk for leading the Lower School through our Goal Three kick-off, Meghan Kocar for moderating the Upper School Outreach Committee and communicating with SPA to coordinate the food pick-up, Sydney Amato '23 for the coordinating of the food and coat drives this season, Emily Lesinski for preparing the eighth graders for the mandala presentation, and Tom Verni for preparing a beautiful liturgy. Seeing the food arranged in the front hall is a beautiful representation of Goals 3 and 4 practiced in our community. Click here for photos.