As a faith leader, I can remember so many happy gatherings and celebrations at East Saugus United Methodist Church where I served as pastor for six years. There were the candles of Christmas, the flowers of Easter, and the happy shouts of joy from children playing during Summer Church Camp. I have heard those same happy sounds of community gathering when visiting the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland, Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead, People's Baptist in Boston, Parkway United Methodist in Milton, Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline, Masjid al Qur’an in Dorchester, Harvard-Epworth United Methodist in Cambridge, and in so many other congregations around Massachusetts and around the United States.
This is what we do as faithful people! This is why my heart breaks at the thought that gathering for prayer and worship, welcoming the stranger, or celebrating as a community could be dangerous or fearful for any person of faith. And yet here we are in January 2022, facing the aftermath of yet another attack on a synagogue during worship in the United States.
Hate crimes and violence are repugnant, period. There is no person on the face of the earth who should ever face hatred and violence. There are no faithful people who deserve this. There are no communities that should ever bear the burden of this trauma and fear. There is no excuse that can ever justify these crimes.
So, I am going to ask all of you reading this to stand in solidarity. Reach out to your colleagues and friends who are feeling the burden of trauma and fear right now, especially in Jewish, Asian, Black, Muslim, and Latino/a communities. Join together to pray for strength, healing, justice, and peace. Use every platform you have to shout a resounding “no” to hatred and violence. Teach the next generation that all people are created in the image of the almighty, and all are equally beloved. Model compassion and respect. Light a candle of hope to beat back the violence and destruction.
We cannot rest until all people of faith can gather once again in safety to pray and worship, to welcome the stranger, and to celebrate as a community. Envision a world in which the doors to all places of worship are flung wide in welcome. Hear the happy voices of communities gathering and children playing. Feel the excitement. Taste the joy. Work and pray, here and now, to create that world.
The Rev. Dr. Anne Marie Hunter serves as Co-Director of Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership Against Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse in Boston, Mass. This post posted in response to the events in Colleyville, TX is republished from the agency’ website. www.interfaithpartners.org