David Sagil, the pastor at New Horizon Temple in Elmwood Park, said he loves to celebrate different cultures and backgrounds.
“Our church welcomes every culture, race and nation on the earth,” he said. “We celebrate our diversity as we reach out in the community.”
New Horizon Temple will be hosting All Nations Sunday. The event will include a meet-and-greet event, special service and an ethnic potluck. The event will take place Sunday. New Horizon is at 7810 W. Elmgrove Drive.
The meet-and-greet event is set at 10:30 a.m., with the special service at 11 a.m. The ethnic potluck will be at 1 p.m.
Sagil said anyone from the community is welcome to participate or attend All Nations Sunday.
“Our congregation consists of 40 different nationalities,” he said.
All Nations Sunday will include a pageantry and celebration of different flags. During the ethnic potluck, attendees are invited to bring a dish of their background, as well as ethnic garb, according to Sagil.
“Last year, we had 73 nationalities represented,” Sagil said. “We also had over 100 visitors.”
Sagil said that if community members are interested in coming to a service, All Nations Sunday should be one to attend since it’s unique and fun. He also hopes to welcome some new people to their congregation, with “amazing food from across the world.”
He noted that he adds in aspects of his mother’s background, which is Assyrian Jewish.
Special events coordinator Laura Jean Spathies said last year she contributed by making Irish soda bread since she is Irish-American. She also wore Irish attire.
“We had food from Pakistan, Peru, Trinidad and many more,” she said.
She said that she really enjoyed a traditional Ukrainian cabbage roll, called Holubtsi.
“All nations and nationalities can come to together in God’s house in celebrating the love of Jesus,” she said. “Everyone is coming to a place where they’re comfortable and welcome.”
Sagil said anyone who would like to participate can email New Horizon Temple at nht_upc@sbcglobal.net or call 708-452-2255.
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
