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August 9, 2018
Jesus said,
Love God with all your heart.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Full stop.
Dear Ones,
This Sunday, to mark the one-year anniversary of the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, I am accepting the
invitation of our Bishop Mariann and our brothers and sisters of the United Methodist Church and will be going to the
"United to Love" rally on the Mall. This gathering is separate from the rally in Lafayette Square.
I am not going with the intention to engage with or try to change the minds of those who espouse hate. I am going to gather with sisters, brothers, and complete strangers to pray, sing and ultimately bear witness to love. I am going because I cannot remain silent.
For as long as I can remember, there have been people in the news and in our neighborhoods who spew hatred. And always, there were others in greater number bearing witness to love -- love of God, love of neighbor, love of stranger. As we sing in the old spiritual, "Yes, I want to be in that number."
Any who wish are welcome to join me. I'll be leaving from the Common at St. Columba's on Sun., Aug. 12, shortly after our 10:30 am worship and taking the Red Line down to Judiciary Square.
 Dear Friends,
I invite you to join our sisters and brothers from the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church for the United to Love Rally on Sunday, August 12, 2018, 11 am - 3 pm, on the National Mall (4th Street) in Washington, D.C. This event is ecumenical, interfaith, inclusive and open to all.
August 12th is the anniversary of the Unite the Right: Charlottesville, VA Rally Action which organizers hope to recreate in Washington, DC's Lafayette Square on the same day. Rather than block anyone's first amendment rights, we have organized a rally of Love, Peace, and Justice. It is our belief that the way to respond to negativity is not by silencing it; rather, the outpouring of love should be so strong as to overwhelm it.
As a prayerful response and call to action, we are inviting faith leaders, musicians, politicians, and other local activists across lines of difference to gather with us in D.C. to uplift the human spirit, renounce all messages of hate, exclusion or division and unite to love.
If you plan to attend, please register online at unitedtolove.org. Worship will begin at 11 am and the rally will follow at 1 pm in the same location on the Mall.
Faithfully,
Bishop Mariann
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