3 CONGREGATIONS TO JOIN FOR MUTUAL THANKSGIVING.

Byline: Holy J. Andres Daily News Staff Writer

A spiritual feast will be offered up at a Thanksgiving service Monday sponsored by Valley Beth Israel, St. Genevieve Catholic Church and Panorama Presbyterian Church.

Rotating the location, Panorama Presbyterian Church will host the fourth annual special service this year.

The initial Thanksgiving service was suggested by a group of parishioners from St. Genevieve's who had been studying Judaism at Valley Beth Israel, according to the Rev. Gary Dart, pastor of Panorama Presbyterian Church. The two congregations decided on a combined service to give thanks to God through singing and reading appropriate scriptural texts.

Enthusiastic about the power of meeting on common ground in order to praise God, an invitation for more participation was sent out to surrounding Protestant churches. After several churches turned down the offer, Panorama Presbyterian Church welcomed the idea of promoting understanding between the faiths by joining in the service.

``The first year was held at our church and it was very successful. It's been a success ever since. These are not solemn services. There's combined choir and congregational singing and humor, lots of humor,'' said Dart, who added that the three congregations got together earlier in the year for a Passover Seder.

Rabbi Morris Rubinstein said the highlight this year will be a children's lesson given by Monsignor Charles Hill of St. Genevieve, Dart and himself explaining different words used for giving thanks, including the Hebrew and Latin words.

``Despite our different creeds, we can worship together at Thanksgiving. When we get together, the feeling that comes through is that we're one big family,'' Rubinstein said.