Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has joined other faith leaders in calling for a national day of mourning and lament on June 1 as the United States exceeds 100,000 documented deaths from COVID-19, and he invites Episcopalians to commemorate the victims during worship services this weekend.

An unprecedented group of 100+ national faith leaders from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions call for a National Day of Mourning and Lament. Together, they look to federal, state, and local elected officials to observe Monday, June 1 as National Day of Mourning and Lament, a day marked by moments of silence, lowering of flags, interfaith vigils, ringing of bells, and civic memorials. This call is being supported by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. 

Together, interfaith leaders and mayors across the nation will call us to mourn, lament, and honor the dead, acknowledge the unequal nature of our suffering, pray together for the healing of the nation, and recommit to the difficult work ahead.

 

"I encourage Episcopalians to join with other people of faith this weekend to grieve and honor those who have died from COVID-19," said Presiding Bishop Curry. "Let this tragic moment not pass without us honoring the many among us who have lost their lives or lost their loved ones and commending them and ourselves to God's love and peace."

 

Click the video below to watch Bishop Curry's message. 

 

A Prayer for the Power of the Spirit Among the People

 

One way Episcopalians can incorporate the gravity of the pandemic into their worship is by praying a new collect, composed by a team of Episcopalians and Lutherans, called "A Prayer for the Power of the Spirit Among the People of God." Written "to unite us in common prayer and revive us for common mission" during this crisis in the spirit of Pentecost, Bishop Curry and his Lutheran counterpart, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, invite congregations to pray it from Pentecost through the first Sunday in September. In addition to expressing a shared desire for renewal in a troubling time, the collect also commemorates nearly 20 years of full communion between The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.