Ocean City clergy, community members worship together at Thanksgiving service

This is the first time in 53 years that Ocean City resident Sue Beakley will not celebrate Thanksgiving with her beloved husband, Bob, who passed away in October.

“This is a tough year,” Sue Beakley said as she sat in a pew at St. Frances Cabrini Church with her friend, Meg Feil.

Beakley, 77, and Feil, 78, were at the church Tuesday to worship at the annual Ocean City Ecumenical Council Community Thanksgiving Service.

A local tradition, the Thanksgiving service brings together local residents and Ocean City’s religious leaders for hymns, prayers and blessings.

Beakley and Feil said they try to attend the service every year.

    Sue Beakley is joined by her friend, Meg Feil, at the service.
  

Despite the loss of her 79-year-old husband, Beakley said it was particularly important to attend this year’s service to reflect on the blessings of Thanksgiving.

“I’m here to give thanks for all the blessings I have received, especially recently,” she said.

Feil, of Upper Township, noted that the service is a nice way to way to begin the holiday season.

During the service, members of the clergy urged the dozens of worshippers to give thanks to God and to recognize the less fortunate during the national day of giving.

Father Tom Newton, pastor of St. Damien Parish, said he also hopes that everyone will treat Thanksgiving as a national day of “unity and healing.”

“In this season of Thanksgiving, open our eyes, ears and hearts and our minds to recognize your blessings,” Newton said.

    Father Tom Newton, pastor of St. Damien Parish, reflects on the blessings of Thanksgiving during his remarks.
  

Pastor Marcia Stanford, of Macedonia United Methodist Church and The Shores at Wesley Manor, reminded worshippers not to forget those in need – including those in Ocean City – when they sit down at the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day to enjoy their traditional turkey dinners.

“How many times have you been there for another?” Stanford said while urging everyone to extend a helping hand.

Taking his turn at the church podium, Mayor Jay Gillian read from a Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation that reflected on the history and importance of the holiday.

Gillian also praised the members of the military, police department and other first responders for helping to keep the local community safe, as well as the entire country.

“I can see the best of America in them,” he said.

    Mayor Jay Gillian reads from a Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation.
  

Sponsored by the Ocean City Ministerium, the Thanksgiving service includes a strong charitable component to gather donations for food and clothing for people in need.

It combines the power of the Ocean City Ministerium with the Ocean City Ecumenical Council. They are faith-based organizations that reach out to the local community.

Collection baskets were passed around during the service for donations benefiting the mission of the Ecumenical Council, including its food and clothing drives in Ocean City. Donations are the lone source of funding for the organization.

“Each and every gift is important to us,” Joanne Kelly, a representative of the Ecumenical Council, said of the food, clothing and monetary donations that are received.

Kelly said that – as is the case with many charitable organizations – 2025 has been a “challenging year” for the Ecumenical Council’s Food Cupboard and Clothes Closet and the people they serve.

    Pianist Diego Ramirez, music director of St. Damien Parish, leads the service in a hymm.
  

So far this year, the Food Cupboard has serviced 733 households for a total of 1,131 individuals, including foreign J-1 students who work in Ocean City during the summer months, Kelly said.

The Clothes Closet has seen 206 clients through the end of October and has distributed 2,016 items, including children’s backpacks, blankets, coats, gloves, mittens and hats, she noted.

“Our organization has been especially blessed this year with the support of our community, and have thankful and grateful hearts. Whether it be large or small, your gift makes a difference,” she said.

In closing remarks, Father Newton expressed his thanks to all of the clergy members, community leaders, church staff and worshippers who attended the service and helped to organize it.

“My heart is filled with gratitude as we come to the end of this Thanksgiving service,” he said.

    St. Frances Cabrini Church, part of St. Damien Parish, serves as the location for the Thanksgiving service.