Local faith communities will continue the ongoing prayer services that were begun in August. Services are held on the first Tuesday of every month from 5:15 - 5:45 PM.  The purpose of Healing Ithaca is to create healing and connection within Ithaca and Tompkins County through prayer and community-building.  It began following the arson at the home of Officer Bryan Bangs and the death of community member Shawn Greenwood. Healing Ithaca is also embracing those in our community who have faced issues of racism and classism.  Open to the public, the gatherings offer opportunities for healing, understanding, and reconciliation. The gatherings honor shared values of the community and seek wisdom for next steps to address the pain and anger that have arisen between and among community members.

Each service is hosted by a different faith community, some in partnership with each other.

February 7, 2012: First Unitarian Society, 306 N. Aurora St. (at Buffalo St.)

January 3, 2012: Temple Beth El, Tioga and Court Streets

December 6, 2011: Baptized Church of Christ, 412 First Street

                                   Led by Pastor Ron Benson

click here to read the February 15, 2011, Ithaca Journal article

click here to read the December 22, 2010, Ithaca Times article

Letter to the editor from the Healing Ithaca group (August 2010):

Recent events in Ithaca have drawn attention to the need for healing, understanding and reconciliation within our community. The arson at the home of Officer Bryan Bangs and events associated with the death of Shawn Greenwood have resulted in pain, anger, and distrust between and among community members. As members of faith communities in Ithaca, we wish to offer the healing solace of prayer and mindfulness to our neighbors.

 Last March, Calvary Baptist Church and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church hosted a community prayer service to pray for the health and well being of our community. A larger group of faith communities now offers a series of opportunities to come together in a spirit of sacredness and healing. Each gathering will be held at GIAC (318 N. Albany Street, Ithaca) on Tuesdays from 5:15 until 5:45 PM. The first will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2010.

 It is our hope that these gatherings will provide a space where we can honor the values we have in common, where we can find wisdom in prayer, sacred speech, music, silence, and speaking from the heart. All are welcome to participate. For more information please send an email to HealingIthacaNY@gmail.com.

 Sincerely,

Rev. Barbara E. Blom, United Church of Christ, Member First Congregational Church of Ithaca

Michael and Sara Culotta, Members, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Diane Dawson, Member, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Rev. Tim Dean, Chaplain, Cayuga Medical Center

Scott L. Glass, Rabbi, Temple Beth-El

Rev. Wayne E. Gustafson, United Church of Christ, Susquehanna Family Counseling Ministry

Dr. James R. Henery, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church

Rev. Laura Lee Kent, Pastor, First Congregational Church of Ithaca, United Church of Christ

Ruth Lovelace, Member, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Rev. Joseph Marcoux, Pastor, St. Catherine of Siena

Rev. Margie Mayson, Pastor, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Leslie Meyerhoff, Council Chair and Member, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Tracy Mitrano, Member, St. John’s Church

Rev. Richard Rose, Pastor, First Baptist Church

Rev. Philip W. Snyder, Rector, St. John’s Church

Chuck Tompkins, Community Faith Partnership

Rev. Nathaniel Wright, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church

Lesley Yorke, Member, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Jane Zimmer, Member, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church