Congregations on Longboat Key plan to unite at annual interfaith service

Going into the Lazy Lobster on Oct. 28, six religious leaders of Longboat Key sat enjoying lunch together. 

Around the table were the Rev. Julia Piermont of Christ Church of Longboat Key, Rev. David Marshall of All Angels By The Sea Episcopal Church, Rev. Brock Patterson and Rev. Jeffrey Nunes of Longboat Island Chapel, Rev. Kenneth Blyth of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church and Rabbi Stephen Sniderman of Temple Beth Israel.

Their conversation revolved around how powerful the first services were when everyone returned to the Key after Hurricane Milton. 

“Everyone expressed how wonderful it felt to be in worship together, to be able to sing together and to be able to have conversations,” said the Rev. Julia Piermont. 

This lunch was only the start of their preparations for the 44th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship Service on Nov. 19. 

As seasonal residents return and the community moves toward normalcy, the six congregations of Longboat Key, also including St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, plan to lead the service under a new interfaith ministry that unites all: the Interfaith Ministerium of St. Armands and Longboat Keys. 

With the help of the Executive Director of the Ministerium and Julia Piermont’s husband Dennis, the Interfaith Ministerium works to encourage more collaboration between the congregations throughout the year beyond the annual interfaith service. Julia said this was in the works before Hurricanes Helene and Milton, but it lit a fire under them to be a resource to all Longboaters, even if they aren’t religious. 

As a retired regional church executive in Long Island, New York, Dennis plans to use his previous experience of organizing communication between different churches to lead the interfaith ministry. He has already started coordinating monthly meetings between the religious leaders and the organization of future events they want to have.

“People are going to assume that the ministry is only about coming to church,” said Dennis. “The ministry is really about the church, looking at where it is and how we serve the people who are living here.”

This year’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will only be the first step toward more unity and bonding together. Its next event is in May where they plan to honor Longboat police, firefighters, town workers and other local first responders for all their work related to the hurricanes. 

As the newest pastor on the island, Julia celebrates her one year of being on the island by giving the sermon of the service. She titled it “Buying Into What You Believe,” which touches on stories that inspire courage and hope for the future. 

All Angels Music Director David Stasney will be leading the “All Faiths Choir,” which will include members of all congregations. All attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food to benefit All Faiths Food Bank. 

“This event is going to be a space for storytelling and connectivity after everything,” said the Rev. David Marshall of All Angels. “We all have been through something pretty tough, so this camaraderie between the different members and pastors is so important.”