Presidential Inauguration 2021: Prayer and Action

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As people of faith and as citizens of the United States, we watched the violent incursion at the U.S. Capitol on the Feast of the Epiphany with horror, fear and sadness. Violence aimed at subverting the will of the people determined through a fair and free election is unconscionable.

As we approach the January 20 Inauguration of a new President and VIce President, we encourage all people of faith, to move intentionally with prayer, reflection and action.  Let this be the moment we unmistakably demonstrate that the Gospel has no tolerance for the hatred, racism and lies which led to the violence at the Capitol. Let this be the moment we, as a community of disciples of Jesus, motivated by redemptive love, claim our vocation as truth-tellers, healers, reconcilers, and peacemakers.

Please consider taking advantage of the following offerings developed by the DC Catholic Coalition and others with whom we work. In addition, we offer tools you can use to share a message of hope, justice and faith on social media.

Monday, January 18

Prayer Vigil

You  are invited to join the interfaith community for a 24-hour prayer vigil. Share your prayers online with the hashtag #PeaceWithJustice. Pax Christi USA has prepared a prayer service based on the words and prayers of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK Moral Monday 

Join the National Interfaith Service of Love, Light and Leadership sponsored by the Poor People’s Campaign Monday, at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Tuesday, January 19 

Interfaith Prayer Service 

Sojourners will host a virtual prayer service from 7-8:30 p.m. ET. Ecumenical church leaders will offer their prayers for #PeaceWithJustice in our nation on the eve of the inauguration. RSVP HERE.

Wednesday, January 20

Social Media Messaging

We encourage you to publicly mark the inauguration beginning at 11 a.m. EST via tweetstorm, sharing comments, testimonies, and commitments on Twitter — all with the hashtag #PeaceWithJustice. Sojourners will be sharing details on their website.

 

DC Catholic Coalition has prepared a number of social media graphics and suggested tweets with faith-filled messages.

Thursday, January 21

Traditionally, the National Cathedral hosts the Inaugural Prayer Service on January 21 at 10:00 ET.  Check their website for a possible virtual event.  You might also find info on the Inaugural website.

 

Join NETWORK’s Post-Inauguration Day Community Conversation at 7:00 p.m. ET for an evening of celebration, reflection, and discussion! It will include reflection on Joe Biden’s Catholic identity and the implications for our nation. Register HERE.

Non-dated Resources
The National Council of the Churches of Christ (NCC), in partnership with the Washington Interfaith Staff Community (WISC), offered an Interfaith Prayer Service of Reflection, Lamentation and Hope (90 minutes) for members of Congress, their staffs, and all who work at and protect the U.S. Capitol on January 15. It can be viewed on YouTube.  The Prayer Service was organized to bear witness to the trauma and to bring comfort and hope to all who work at the Capitol complex.

 

Faith in Action: Addressing Links Among Climate Change, Poverty, Migration

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New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light is among the more than 300 organizations from the U.S., Central America and Mexico to participate in Faith in Action, a global campaign that seeks to draw a link among climate change, poverty and the root causes of migration, immigration and refugees.  Stay engaged via action alerts from Faith in Action

Join Faith in Action on Thursday, January 14,  at 12p PT /1p MT /2p CT / 3p ET for its  monthly Root Causes Initiative call.  Organizers will use that time to share updates on the campaign’s progress, assess new opportunities given the results of the Senate races in Georgia, and plan our strategy to achieve important policy changes in the first 100 days of the new Biden administration.  Register for the call.

Sign and share this online petition urging President-elect Biden to change U.S. policy toward Central America, to address the root causes of poverty, unemployment, climate change, corruption, and violence that force so many people from the region to leave home and migrate north.

Adopting a Green Amendment for NM

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Community Health, Pure Water, Clean Air, Healthy Environment for Present & Future Generations: Adopting a Green Amendment for NM

What is a Green Amendment?

A New Mexico Green Amendment will recognize and protect the human rights of all our people, including future generations, to healthy water, air and environments including the human health and cultural benefits they provide. A Green Amendment added to the bill of rights of the New Mexico constitution will allow us to honor our sacred trust to care for our earth and future generations, and to equitably protect the rights of all people to access and benefit from healthy environments. Since all life is dependent upon clean air, pure water, a stable climate and healthy environments, it is appropriate and just that we would recognize and protect environmental rights as powerfully as we protect other fundamental civil and political rights such as free speech and freedom of religion. The constitutional environmental rights amendment (i.e. the New Mexico Green Amendment) sets guidelines for working toward a cleaner environment and also empowers communities to hold officials accountable to these standards.  Learn More