Love Thy Neighbor Interfaith Service Thursday

From the steps of a downtown Billings church on a frigid Thursday night, around 40 people gathered for an interfaith service.  The half hour “Love Your Neighbor” ceremony took place in front of Billings First Church and included remarks from people inspired by Christianity, Judaism, Islam, humanism and the traditions of the Blackfeet tribe.

A group recitation of the words “Paz, peace, shalom, salaam”– or peace in four languages– declared each other neighbors who are glad they are here.  Pastor Tracy Heilman said the event came together when she met a group of people at a Billings Starbucks earlier in the week, discussing President Donald Trump’s executive order for a 90 day travel ban, singling out people from seven Muslim-majority nations, a 120 day ban on all refugees and an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria.