The gathering this past Sunday was an outdoor socially distanced vigil; a time of grieving, being and anticipating. Although, the weather was colder than we would have liked, it was a time to stop holding our breathe for a few moments. It was a time to breathe deeply and to be present with our emotions our bodies and with others.

There were four stations that were available to visit at one’s own pace.

The first station was an “emotional map” station where people were invited to check in with themselves, locate their emotions and to bear witness to the emotions of others in our community. This may be a good resource to revisit in the days and weeks to come. 

The second. station was the “embodiment station.” At this station people were invited to be present with their body by engaging in simple movements. Our bodies carry a lot of trauma and emotion that is sometimes difficult to verbally express. Movement gives “voice” to feelings and emotions in which we have not yet found the words to name aloud or to ourselves.

The third station was a “prayer station.” This station had multiple ways in which to engage. People were invited to participate in the ways that felt most comfortable to them. Folks could light a candle as a way of saying a prayer for a person or concern that they held. Folks could also write their own prayers using prompts to aid them or simply to write whatever came to mind. Lastly, folks could read, pray, and take with them already written prayers from a variety of sources. 

The fourth station was a “fire pit station.” At this station people were invited to either burn their prayers as a cathartic release or place their prayers in the “glittery red lips” to be held by the community. 

We will be having a second outdoor socially distanced Vigil: A time of grieving, being, and anticipating at our next gathering on November 8th. 

Below are a couple of resources that may be helpful tools to process 

Prayers

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vJ35ah6Hnd_a4g0-LmBl16qJw639ymHrkXyj_Zn0syk/edit?usp=sharing

Bulletin

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XaaDAEAoLjj9Pzr1KZ1yoxubCpXzHNN4ZLs4VkRLEz8/edit?usp=sharing

Emotional map.jpg

 

“Litany for Those Who Aren’t Ready for Healing” Rev. Dr. Yolanda Pierce

Let us not rush to the language of healing, before understanding the fullness of the injury and the depth of the wound.

Let us not rush to offer a band-aid, when the gaping wound requires surgery and complete reconstruction.

Let us not offer false equivalencies, thereby diminishing the pain being felt in a particular circumstance in a particular historical moment.

Let us not speak of reconciliation without speaking of reparations and restoration, or how we can repair the breach and how we can restore the loss.

Let us not rush past the loss of this mother’s child, this father’s child…someone’s beloved son.

Let us not value property over people; let us not protect material objects while human lives hang in the balance.

Let us not value a false peace over a righteous justice.

Let us not be afraid to sit with the ugliness, the messiness, and the pain that is life in community together.

Let us not offer clichés to the grieving, those whose hearts are being torn asunder.

Instead…

Let us mourn black and brown men and women, those killed extrajudicially every 28 hours.

Let us lament the loss of a man, dead at the hands of a police officer who described him as a demon.

Let us weep at a criminal justice system, which is neither blind nor just.

Let us call for the mourning men and the wailing women, those willing to rend their garments of privilege and ease and sit in the ashes of this nation’s original sin.

Let us be silent when we do not know what to say.

Let us be humble and listen to the pain, rage, and grief pouring from the lips of our neighbors and friends.

Let us decrease, so that our brothers and sisters who live on the underside of history may increase.

Let us pray with our eyes open and our feet firmly planted on the ground

Let us listen to the shattering glass and let us smell the purifying fires, for it is the language of the unheard.

God, in your mercy…

Show me my own complicity in injustice.

Convict me for my indifference.

Forgive me when I have remained silent.

Equip me with a zeal for righteousness.

Never let me grow accustomed or acclimated to unrighteousness.