March 25 Big Episcopal Prayer Vigil Against Gun Violence in DC

[marions ghost]

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/notice/episcopal-church-focuses-gun-violence-march-25-stations-cross-washington-dc

On Monday, March 25 at 10:30 am Eastern, more than 20 Episcopal bishops from throughout the church will lead hundreds of clergy and lay people in praying the Stations of the Cross in Washington, DC, as they process along Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the U. S. Capitol to challenge violence, especially the epidemic of gun violence that claims so many thousands of American lives each year.

The service will begin outside St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, http://www.stjohns-dc.org/ at the corner of 16th and H Streets, Northwest, across from the White House, and conclude on the west lawn of the U. S. Capitol some two and a half hours later.

The specially written Stations of the Cross, focusing on the tragedy of gun violence, are available here https://www.ctepiscopal.org/Content/Holy_Week_Witness_Liturgy.asp for personal use, and can be adapted for use in local contexts.





While I am not a churchgoer myself, I have to give a big to any church that is active on the issue of gun violence. While reading various news items on guns yesterday I found out that the Episcopal clergy are going to make a statement on it during Easter Week. The prayer vigil in the streets of DC will begin soon this morning.

We need all the help we can get on this.

[ellisonz]

1. I hope they got a great turnout.

[marions ghost]

2. Good day for it

I am appreciative of their efforts to address the gun violence issue and take it to DC. The Episcopals came from all over the East Coast and beyond for this. I see from the net that a lot of churches are having dialogues about it since Sandy Hook. They seem to be responding to troubled members need for support and guidance, & action hopefully.

We are appalled by senseless violence in other countries but have been blind to it here. For whatever reason. Denial, depression, shame, cowardice, resignation--all that. No more excuses. If churches could help this country emerge from this state of willful negligence I'm all for it. Some Jewish congregations are speaking to it during Passover as well. They could all make a big difference.

[hrmjustin]

3. The diocese will make sure people show up.

They are making it a Holy Week event.

[hrmjustin]

4. I wonder how it went?

[marions ghost]

5. They just showed a brief clip on Rachel Maddow

looks like there was a light rain but a good turnout.

I hope this momentum continues. I think the churches have an obligation to address the issue. How can you do missions all over the world to aid humanity and ignore the humanity suffering in this country because of gun proliferation?

[hrmjustin]

6. A lot of Episcopal churches here in the NYC area are taking on this issue.

I hope it continues to grow.