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Dear Partners in Advocacy,
Maybe you are like me. For weeks now, as Election Day has approached, my feelings of worry, anxiety, stress, and even fear have continued to grow as I have mulled over the potential outcomes of the election. In a recent conversation with Wayne Mueller, one of our speakers at the upcoming Fall Advocacy Conference, we reflected on what he should focus on in his talk. We pondered several questions such as, How did facts become irrelevant? Have we reached the point where much of American society deifies hatred as a moral good or a moral strength? Could it be possible that the American experiment with democracy is over? Are Jesus and his teachings out-of-date? Wherever Wayne goes, it will be drawn from the current climate and the election and it will be worth hearing.
If you find yourself in a similar place I encourage you to seek out opportunities to gather, pray, and contemplate tomorrow, Election Day. I know there are many, maybe even your faith community has one, but here are a few of the opportunities that I am aware of:
- Holy Cross Lutheran (6901 Wyoming NE, ABQ): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Open sanctuary for individual prayers and fellowship. Refreshments and coffee all day.
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First Congregational Church (2801 Lomas NE, ABQ): The chapel will be open for prayer from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be a simple prayer and fellowship gathering on November 6th at 6 p.m.
- St Michael & All Angels Episcopal (601 Montano Rd NW, ABQ) will be open for prayer from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come when you can, stay as long as you like, and spend some time with God in quiet and solitude.
- Peace Lutheran Church (1701 Missouri Ave, Las Cruces) will have open prayer time from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
As a reminder, there are also opportunities available online offered by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and The Episcopal Church. I've included information and links to both below.
Re. Eugene Cho, President & CEO of Bread for the World, offered these thoughts this morning.
"I was a local church pastor for nearly thirty years before being called to serve as president of Bread, and I learned that, because we are human, we are bound to experience fear and anxiety. This is why Paul’s words to the Philippians are important - then and now: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (4:5b-7 NRSVUE).
It is unlikely we will know the results of the presidential election and some congressional elections for several days or even longer. As we watch the races play out in the media, let us not focus solely on politicians and pundits and angry voices, allowing ourselves to be consumed by anxiety; but rather, let us focus our minds on Christ, the author and perfector of our faith. Let us pray for a peaceful, safe, and fair Election Day. Let us pray for a peaceful transfer of power. Let us pray for everyone who is vulnerable and who will go to bed without enough nutritious food to eat tonight."
Registration for our 2024 Fall Advocacy Conference continues! I hope you will be joining us on Saturday, November 16th, from 8:30 to 1 p.m. The conference will again be held at All Saints Lutheran Church in Albuquerque and a Zoom option will also be available. Additional details and a link to register are included below. Please invite members of your faith community and share the information and details widely.
Peace be with you,
Kurt
Kurt A. Rager
Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico
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