Kevin Kelly/Key photo Father John Weiss, left, pastor of Christ the King Parish, joins voices in song with the Rev. Dustin L. Cooper, pastor of Red Bridge United Methodist Church, at an ecumenical Thanksgiving service held at the Methodist church.

Then the congregation from 13 Christian churches and agencies heard the gratitude of a Catholic priest for their ecumenical, Christian effort against hunger in south Kansas City.

Recalling how one of his parishioner's joked with him about not "begging out" of delivering the sermon at the annual Red Bridge Ministerial Alliance community Thanksgiving service Nov. 25, Christ the King Parish pastor Father John Weiss said this was one sermon he was compelled to deliver.

For too long, he said, he has failed to acknowledge the support the churches within the Red Bridge Ministerial Alliance have given to the Christ the King food pantry. The ecumenical Thanksgiving service provided him the perfect opportunity.

"I've been like the nine ingrates in today's Gospel in failing to express our thanks to all of you," Father Weiss said.

Noting that the churches within the Red Bridge Ministerial Alliance donate money, food, and volunteers to the Christ the King food pantry, Father Weiss said the work at the parish pantry and senior nutritional center wouldn't be possible without the support of fellow Christians.

"We could not serve all we serve without your considering us to be an extension of your own Christian ministry," Father Weiss said. "This is the time for us at Christ the King Parish to thank you very gratefully and tell you how happy we are that you consider us part of you."

Father Weiss recalled the heady days after the Second Vatican Council when full unity among Christian denominations seemed within grasp. It hasn't happened yet, he said, but the Christian work that the churches of the Red Bridge Ministerial Alliance do together shows that the dream of unity in Christ is not dead.

"I do know that at the grassroots level, these desires and hopes for unity are still there," he said. "Ecumenism as we know it truly is best experienced at the local, congregational level. Sometimes, our greatest hopes and ambitions are unfulfilled. But we also know that when two or three of us are gathered together, Christ is present and real ecumenism takes place."

The prayer service, conducted this year at Red Bridge United Methodist Church, drew more than 100 people from south Kansas City faith communities.

With their leaders taking various roles in the celebration of song, prayer, Scripture and reflection, the congregation also came from Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, First Baptist Church, Kingswood Senior Living, Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, Red Bridge Christian Church, St. Peter Episcopal Church, St. Peter United Church of Christ and three Catholic communities in addition to Christ the King - St. Thomas More Parish, Avila University and Saint Joseph Health Center.

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