By JACK PALMER

palmer@crescent-news.com

More than 150 faith-filled people joined three northwest Ohio religious leaders in prayers for peace and justice during a multi-faith service Tuesday at St. John United Church of Christ.

Featured speakers were Bishop Leonard Blair of the Catholic Diocese of Toledo, Imam Farooq Aboelzahab of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo and Rabbi Barry Leff of Congregation B"nai Israel in Toledo.

Blair called on all people of goodwill "to enter into a serious dialogue of truth about human rights and responsibilities that is written on the human heart by the creator."

Added the bishop: "We can all share a common respect and obedience to conscience -- a conscience which teaches all of us to love and respect all individuals."

"I"m humbled to be invited to this house of God where Muslims, Christians and Jews gather together as believers of one God," said Aboelzahab. "We are all from one human family. All of us are children of Adam and Eve.

"What is needed first, brothers and sisters, is to be just within ourselves," he added. "That will extend to justice within the family, justice within the community, justice within the world."

"Peace is one of the central values of Judaism," said Leff. "Peace means peace among all peoples.

"We"ve all had the experience of being strangers. This can happen only when we forget we are all brothers," he continued. "We all share the same father. No one can say to another, "My father is greater than yours." Each of us has been created in the image of God."

The service, modeled after a similar interfaith service in Toledo in August, was designed to bring together members of the Abrahamic faith traditions to reflect on peace and justice.

"God of mercy and compassion, of grace and reconciliation, pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East and wherever there is violence and hostility," prayed Rev. Jan Bechtel, Defiance College campus chaplain. "Let hatred be turned to love, fear to trust, despair to hope... that violent encounters be replaced by loving embraces, and peace and justice can be experienced for all."

"May the God who heals touch us and our violent world, bless us and be with us always," Rev. Dr. William Nirote of the host church said during the closing prayer. "Let us denounce violence, support peace and freedom for all and console those who are hurting."

Following the service, the participating clergy leaders greeted those in attendance in the church narthex.

Besides Bechtel and Nirote, other members of the service"s planning committee were Dr. Donald Knueve, Dr. Michael Spath, Rev. Dr. Todd Anderson, Rev. Charles Singler, Rev. Tim Kummerer, Dr. Marian Plant, Rev. Bob McNamara and Dr. Ken Christiansen.