East Williston’s Centennial Year Interfaith Service Kick-Off at the Community Church

By: Elise Vaidya

East Williston’s centennial year kicked off with an interfaith service held at the Community Church of East Williston. The service brought residents together across faiths, backgrounds, and generations, and centered on the idea of unity and coming together despite differences. Clergy and leaders from multiple denominations participated, offering readings, reflections, and music that emphasized shared values such as compassion, service, and respect. In a time when divisions often feel amplified, the gathering served as a meaningful moment of pause and reflection, reminding attendees that our strength lies in our ability to come together with openness and goodwill.

The event also set the tone for the centennial year ahead: inclusive, reflective, and forward-looking, while rooted in the past. Neighbors greeted one another warmly, many reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones, all united by pride in the community they call home.

Building on that sense of shared history and connection, the next centennial event will invite residents to sit down together for nostalgic storytelling. The upcoming Living With History Breakfast will bring together residents past and present to share personal stories, memories, and reflections on life in the Village across the decades.

The breakfast will feature remarks from longtime residents whose lived experiences span much of the Village’s history, as well as a former Village historian who will help place those personal stories into a broader historical context.

Together, these first two events capture the heart of the centennial celebration: honoring our past, celebrating our stories, and looking forward to the next century. Residents are encouraged to attend, learn, participate, and add their own voices to the ongoing story of this community.