WASHINGTON – On Monday, September 30th, a diverse group of clergy from various faith traditions gathered in front of Saint John’s Church, Lafayette Square, for the third prayer vigil as part of the “Moral Monday Season of Prayer and Action.” This series of prayers is being held on the last Monday of each month to call on the 2024 presidential campaigns to center truth, love, and equity. The first Moral Monday event was held on July 29th, followed by the second one on August 26th. The final prayer gathering will take place on October 28th.
During the vigil on Monday, the clergy delivered powerful prayers emphasizing the values of love, justice, and humanity. The speakers urged people of all faiths and backgrounds to unite during this election in the pursuit of justice, solidarity, and peace.
Rev. Dr. Hannah Broome, Director of Religious Affairs, Repairers of the Breach, and coordinator for the Moral Monday prayer vigils, opened the gathering with these words:
“We have come as faith leaders staying true to our highest ideals of our faith traditions and our sacred texts that [are] uniting and urging this nation to adhere to the best moral and constitutional principles.”
Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, leader of Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, noted that these prayers were taking place just days before the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,while also acknowledging the ongoing devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast.
“During these days we reflect and take stock of ourselves, our actions, and the world in which we live. This is an incredibly auspicious, and perilous, time in the Jewish calendar and in our nation. It is also a time of great possibility, a time when we must ensure that we are acting in accordance with our deepest values: tzedek, justice, and chesed, loving kindness,” she said.
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, Senior Minister at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, spoke of the need to cherish both the earth and its people.
“We ask for the courage to dismantle the systems that perpetuate harms against the earth and her people. We long for a world where we no longer wage war on each other or on the planet but instead care tenderly for both knowing that the health of our environment is inseparable from the well-being of all people,” he said.
Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, Senior Pastor at Foundry United Methodist Church, asked God to steer humanity in the right direction.
“Lord, we cling to our ways, and this is where we are. So turn us to your ways, oh God. Save us from the violence of greed and hatred and apathy and prejudice. Turn us to your ways, oh God,” she said. “For you know that we can be better. For we are made in your image, you know that if we can send humans into outer space and find cures to diseases and create artificial intelligence, we can use our God-given human intelligence to figure out how to make peace and not war.”
Imam Faisal Khan, founding member of the Islamic Society of Washington Area, used his remarks to pray for the least of these.
“We especially lift up those who are not able to be with us, those who may struggle even now under the burden of oppression and injustice and those who daily live in despair. We pray for their health,” he said.
Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner, Minister of Worship and Outreach at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, prayed for the nation to change course on public policy.
“I pray for the soul of this nation that we at last would find our strength in our shared flourishing and cease the immoral campaigns of strength through bombing and imprisonment and environmental devastation and human deprivation,” she said.
THIRD “MORAL MONDAY SEASON OF PRAYER” PARTICIPANTS:
- Rev. Dr. Hannah Broome, Director of Religious Affairs for Repairers of the Breach and the coordinator of the Moral Monday prayer vigils
- Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell, Associate Rector for Parish Life and Family Ministry at Saint John’s Church
- Dr. Alvin O’Neal Jackson, National Faith Convener, Keeping the Faith Campaign, Repairers of the Breach
- Rabbi Jenni Rosenn, Founder of Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action
- Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, Senior Minister at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
- Rev. GInger Gaines-Cirelli, Senior Pastor at Foundry United Methodist Church
- Imam Faizul Khan, Founding member of the Islamic Society of Washington Area
- Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner, Minister of Worship and Outreach at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation
- Sigute Meilus, National Director of Social Justice Organizing for Repairers of the Breach and the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival