WASHINGTON – On Monday, August 26th, a diverse coalition of clergy from various faith traditions, gathered in front of the U.S. Supreme Court for a prayer vigil as a part of the “Moral Monday Season of Prayer and Action.” The series of Moral Monday prayers are being held on the last Monday of each month to call on the 2024 presidential campaigns to center truth, love, and equity. This follows the first Moral Monday event on July 29th and precedes two additional prayer vigils that will be held on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on September 30 and October 28.
During Monday’s vigil, clergy shared powerful prayers focused on love, justice, and humanity. Speakers emphasized the need for people of all faiths and backgrounds to come together in the name of justice, solidarity, and peace.
Rev. Dr. Hanna Broome, Director of Religious Affairs for Repairers of the Breach and coordinator of the Moral Mondays prayer vigils, emphasized the need for unity and solidarity as we work to build a society for all of us.
“I invite each of us to open up our hearts and minds to the possibilities that this season of prayer can bring,” said Rev. Broome. “Let us join together in the spirit of unity with a shared belief that through our collective efforts we can build a society that resembles the beloved community that Martin Luther King has given us. As we stand together in solidarity, it’s not about division, it’s not about rhetoric, but it’s about us standing boldly and courageously for a society that uplifts all and not just a few.”
Imam Refai Arefin of the Islamic Community Center of Potomac echoed Rev. Broome’s sentiments by calling on people of all religions to work together to spread a message of love and equity.
“We call on you to inspire all of our elected officials to come out clearly and unequivocally against the politics of hatred, fear, racism, and xenophobia,” said Imam Arefin. “We pray that you inspire us that we look within ourselves to go outside of our comfort zones. To visit a temple, a mosque, a church, a synagogue, any place that we would otherwise drive past to spread your universal message of love and truth and justice.”
Also emphasizing the importance of love was Rev. Jon Scarffe of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Alexandria, Virginia, who called on leaders of all faiths to preach love, justice, and righteousness.
“Let us join in raising up all the people of this country. They need our help, Lord God. They need your help,” said Rev. Scarffe. “So please be with us Lord God this day and always that we may always do what you command us to do. Love you, love God, love ourselves. Let’s preach justice, let’s preach love, let’s preach righteousness.”
When Rev. Dr. Rebekah Savage, Senior Minister at the UU Congregation of Rockville, Maryland, took the stage, she invoked the wisdom of our ancestors and the founding creed of the United States to lead us down a path where everyone is equal.
“Oh Spirit of Life, Spirit of Love,” said Rev. Savage, “fortify us with the wisdom and tenacity of our ancestors to continue to build a new way toward the promise that is written into the founding documents of our nation—a nation where all of us are created as equals and endowed with the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
With an emphasis on our shared commonality—humanity—Gabriela Martinez of the Franciscan Action Network lifted up poor and low-income communities where needs continue to go unmet.
“Where there is hateful speech against my sibling, let me love for all,” said Martinez. “Where there are unmet needs, let us provide without endless questioning. Where there is political turbulence, let us trust in the voice of all the people. Where there is violence, let us pause to see our common humanity.”
Turning the attention to communities abroad, Pranay Somayajula, Director of Organizing and Advocacy at Hindus for Human Rights, prayed for the people of Palestine, Kashmir, Sudan, the Congo, and Haiti—where there is immense suffering and violence—and to one day soon find peace in all of these communities.
“From Palestine to Kashmir to Sudan to the Congo to Haiti to everywhere around the world where people are suffering from violence and occupation and oppression and imperialism,” said Somayajula, “we pray not just for peace, but we pray for justice. And we pray for liberation. Because without justice and liberation, peace is just an empty word.”
SECOND “MORAL MONDAY SEASON OF PRAYER” CLERGY PARTICIPANTS:
- Rev. Dr. Hanna Broome, Director of Religious Affairs, Repairers of the Breach
- Rev. Vajaah Parker, AME Zion Church
- Imam Refai Arefin, Islamic Community Center of Potomac
- Pranay Somayajula, Organizing & Advocacy Director, Hindus for Human Rights
- Rev. Dayna Edwards, Minister of Faith Formation, Cedar Lane UU Congregation
- Rev. Moya Harris, African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Gabriela Martinez, Associate of Campaigns, Franciscan Action Network
- Rev. Jon Schoff, Episcopal Church
- Rev. Karen Marsh, Unitarian First Church
- Rev. Mia McClain, Riverside Baptist Church
- Rev. T. Sheri Amore-Dickerson, United Church of Christ
- Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage, Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation