Dear Students and Friends,

Our beloved nation, “We the People,” usually a beacon of democracy for the world is this day in crisis.

A mob stormed the Capitol, stopped our democratic process, and necessitated our lawmakers to evacuate to a place of safety. The rioters hoped to burn the electoral college votes.

Those who illegally damaged property, and entered the capitol in the manner they did were not engaged in democratic civil dissent; they were participating in disorder, and chaos.

President Trump told a crowd of supporters today “We will never give up. We will never concede.”

Whatever your political party affiliation, “We the People”, are called to a more perfect union, called to be the United States of America. Healthy debate, and respectful disagreement are essential components of our democracy. Threatening our lawmakers, and our democratic process with lies, and violence are not, and indeed put our democratic corporate life together in grave danger.

The full opening clause of our Constitution is: “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.”

Those of us who follow in the way of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, let us witness at this hour by denouncing all violence, and embody Christian LOVE for the safety and wellbeing  of everyone.

Let us join our hearts and hands and prayers with our dear interfaith brothers and sisters at this critical hour.

Let us fervently pray for the restoration and continuation of national order and democracy.

Fervently pray this night and in the days ahead for peace in Washington DC and across our nation; for the peace and well-being of all Americans; for the healing of our divisions. For the peace and well-being of the world.

Fervently pray for our national and local leaders that they provide calm, clarity, and healing guidance in this critical hour, and in the days ahead.

Fervently pray for all law enforcement charged with protecting our democracy.

Fervently pray this night and in the days ahead for PEACE, as we seek to faithfully follow Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Let us fervently, and with confidence place our trust in the Living God, who through the centuries brings order to creation, blesses those in need with strength, courage, healing and hope.

In this hour let us love God with all our hearts, minds and souls, and indeed all of our neighbors.

In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray.

Amen.

Chaplain Holly