Those worshiping at First United Methodist Church tonight will come from different faith backgrounds, but will all have one goal in common -- to give thanks.

The Ninth Annual Thanksgiving Ecumenical service will be held at 7 p.m. tonight and all Christian denominations are welcome to participate, said the Rev. Debbie King Quale, director of the Christian Education Center.

"This year we've talked about the whole approach about what does it mean to be thankful," King Quale said.

Various churches have hosted the service and about 10 churches are represented each year. This year the Rev. Pat Toschak at First United Methodist will host it as it has done in previous years.

"We just believe that its just so important to come together as Christians to worship God together," Toschak said.

Prayer and music will be the focus of the service.

Toschak said the service takes on more meaning considering that the United States is facing the possibility of war.

"We need to discover ways to work for peace, not just for the United States but for everyone, everywhere," she said.

The Rev. Jim Peck, pastor at First Congregational, has participated in the service before.

"As a community here, there's so much to be thankful for," Peck said.

The Rev. Paul Nelson, priest at St. Augustine Church, said the service is an opportunity for people a various faith traditions to come together as one.

"We live in an age now when we can respect each other's traditions," Nelson said.

Nelson said prejudice against those of other denominations and faith backgrounds still exists, but the service helps to break down those stereotypes.

"It's an opportunity to publicly and together stand against that," he said.

Other ecumenical services also are held around Christmas and Good Friday, King Quale said.

"It's neat that we've come a long way in terms of religion," she said.

The ecumenical service begins 7 p.m. tonight at First United Methodist Church at 204 First Ave. NW in Austin.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235

or by e-mail at cari.quam@austindailyherald.com