Wednesday Night: St. Luke’s Church Responds to Election with ‘Service of Reconciliation and Hope’

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The election of Donald Trump to the presidency, “no matter what side of the aisle you sit on” is momentous and has left many “shocked and in fear,” say the clergy of St. Luke’s Church, which will hold a special church service at 7 p.m. tonight.

“[W]e will ask God to give us the courage to re-commit ourselves to the gospel imperative of seeking justice, working for peace, and including all people in the circle of God’s compassionate embrace,” said an email from the church’s clergy.

Reconciliation and civility is a strong theme of and reason for the service, the email said: “We need divine help to be able to work fiercely and passionately for what we know to be good and right and true, without blaming or shaming others on the way to that ideal.”

Here’s the full text of the email:

Dear Friends,

Last night’s election has shocked the world.  No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, it’s clear that something momentous has happened.  There is uncertainty.  We’ve never been in a place like this before.  Many people are shocked and in fear.  Some say the last time they felt like this was 9/11.

Tonight we will gather at 7 p.m. in the church for a service of reconciliation and hope (childcare will be provided).  We will offer prayers, the choir will sing, you will have an opportunity to light a candle of hope, and we will ask God to give us the courage to re-commit ourselves to the gospel imperative of seeking justice, working for peace, and including all people in the circle of God’s compassionate embrace.

It’s clear to people of good will that we need to listen to one another and work together with those who differ with us.  We need divine help to be able to work fiercely and passionately for what we know to be good and right and true, without blaming or shaming others on the way to that ideal.  In other words, we need to pray those immortal words, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

Yours faithfully,
The Clergy of Saint Luke’s

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