Every year, Friends of the Poor coordinates a series of activities around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

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An Interfaith Service has for many years been the official beginning of these activities.  St. Peter's Cathedral in downtown Scranton was the location of this service, held at 12:10 on the Monday before Thanksgiving.

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In 2017, it was decided to try to engage a broader cross-section of the local community in this service by moving it to an evening at a location with convenient parking.  Temple Hesed volunteered to host the service by adapting their normal Friday evening Sabbath service at 7 PM.

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The program in November 2017 did involve increased participation, and so it was continued in November 2018, this time with the additional a pot-luck supper at 6 pm.  The enthusiastic participation at this service has led to plans for November 2019 to again be hosted at Temple Hesed, 2 Knox Road in Scranton.

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The 2017 Service was recorded by Electric City Television and broadcast through their cable channel.  It can be viewed on You Tube.

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