Burke Presbyterian Church has been involved in an Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship Service since 1984 with our Jewish neighbors of Congregation Adat Reyim. Some years later St. Mary’s of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church joined us and more recently the Muslims of Rumi Forum. This service takes place on the eve of Thanksgiving Day on a rotating basis in our different Houses of Worship and with a different clergy person giving the Thanksgiving message each year.

In addition we have had special services and seminars.  Most notable was a Prayer Service in response to the horrific events of 9/11/01.  We gathered together that very night for prayers, scripture readings, music and the blowing of the shofar!  A memorial and healing service was also held on the tenth anniversay of 9/11.

We also had a special seminar with Washington Post writer Laura Blumenfeld, the author of Revenge: A Story of Hope. “'An eye for an eye'  or 'turn the other cheek'?” is the question with which Blumenfeld wrestled for thirteen years after her rabbi father was shot (not fatally) in Jerusalem, and it is the question she answers in Revenge.  We had a very lively discussion.

Peace by Piece is an interfaith group formed by members of Burke Presbyterian Church (BPC), Congregation Adat Reyim (CAR), and the Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies (IITS). Peace by Piece actively promotes dialogue, joint worship, and friendship among its members. We meet monthly from September through May for dialogue on our various religious traditions, to experience worship of each of our traditions and to build friendship. We also participate in a mission project on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. In 2012, we painted one of Fairfax County's Community Homes for residents with emotional problems.

We do a fall concert to support two organizations -- Parents Circle-Families Forum and The Interfaith Encounter Association-- that bring together the peoples of the Middle East in the spirit of peaceful coexistence.  These organizations provide avenues for working together towards mutual respect, understanding of each others’ world views, and reconciliation.