Thank you to the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis for the creation of this graphic. Learn more or create your own at https://indydio.org/light-a-candle-pray-for-the-nation-vote/.
Prayer During Election Week
A Season of Prayer: For an Election
Date: October 27-November 4
We come together, asking God for courage and wisdom, thanking God for love and joy. As we move toward the election of leaders for the United States, may we all join in a season of prayer, committing to offer to God our fears and frustrations, our hopes and dreams.
A novena is an ancient tradition of nine days of devotional prayers, often with a specific intention. In this case, we pray for discernment in voting and for the well-being of our nation.
Starting October 27 and continuing through the day after the election, we invite you to pray for the election of leaders in the United States. Materials are available here in English and Spanish for use at home or to share with you congregation. These prayers, drawn from The Book of Common Prayer, can be printed out and tucked in a Bible or prayer journal.
The prayers will also be posted daily on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, #seasonofprayer. This is a collaboration between Forward Movement and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.
Holding Onto Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness
Date: Sunday, November 1
Time: 4/3 p.m. (EST/CDT)
As the United States struggles through a time of turbulence and tension, Washington National Cathedral will host a national interfaith prayer service on Sunday, Nov. 1 – two days before Election Day – featuring Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and other spiritual leaders. The service, titled “Holding Onto Hope: A national service for healing and wholeness,” will be livestreamed on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page in English and Spanish from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Eastern time.
“In the midst of pandemic, racial reckoning and a historic election, the livestreamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope and a call to love God and neighbor,” said the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, canon to the presiding bishop for evangelism, reconciliation and stewardship of creation.
Curry will offer “wisdom and encouragement,” along with the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, and Valarie Kaur, a Sikh filmmaker and speaker.
Prayer Hotline
Date: November 1-5
Time: 8/7 a.m.-8/7 p.m. (EST/CST)
Personal prayer will be available in English and Spanish starting during the November 1 National Prayer Service, staffed by Episcopal clergy and chaplains, in partnership with the TryTank based at Virginia Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary.
#VoteFaithfully: Advocacy and Engagement
Poll Chaplains Training
Date: October 20
Time: 12 p.m./11 a.m. (EST/CST)
Clergy and lay chaplains interested in serving as a prayerful presence at the polls on Election Day are invited to register for a training webinar on Tuesday, October 20 at 12:00 noon EST.
This webinar, offered by The Episcopal Church and partnering organization Lawyers and Collars will teach public faith engagement for what Presiding Bishop Michael Curry describes as “poll chaplains.” Participants will learn how to provide a calm and loving presence in the way of love, peace, justice, and reconciliation.
“Poll chaplains can help to remind us that we are fellow Americans first,” said The Rev. Charles Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop for ministry beyond The Episcopal Church. “Our identity as people of faith – and our commitment to each other’s dignity – matters more than our commitment to a political party.”
The Rev. Stephanie Spellers, canon to the presiding bishop for evangelism, reconciliation and creation care, added, “We encourage Episcopalians everywhere to find ways to share God's peace and justice now. Our communities need that witness.”
More information is available here and here.
Register for the webinar in advance here.
National Vote Early DayDate: October 24
The Episcopal Church has partnered with National Vote Early Day! More than 200 Million Americans have options to vote early ahead of election by-mail or in-person. We’re celebrating Vote Early Day on Saturday, October 24th to make sure that all Americans know their options this election season. Voting early reduces lines on election day and ensures that Americans do not have to choose between health and their civic duty. Learn more about Vote Early Day through this video:
Find out if you have options to vote early at voteearlyday.org.
Protest Chaplain Training and Discussion on Faithful Civil Action
Date: October 27
Time: 6/5 p.m. (EST/CST)
The Reconciliation and Justice Team and Ethnic Ministries will be training Episcopal leaders (clergy and laity) to be a peaceful, prayerful presence in the midst of direct action and protests.
Resources from The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
Please join the Office of Government Relations on the two Tuesdays leading up to Election Day, November 3rd, for informative webinars - in collaboration with the Church’s Reconciliation, Justice & Creation Care and Ethnic Ministries departments - on empowering your vote and those in your community as well learning how to build on your advocacy from this election onward.
Both webinars will be in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish available.
Empowering the Vote: Voices from the Church
Tuesday, October 20th, 3:00 – 4:00pm ETVoting Beyond 2020: You vote Nov. 3, now what?
Tuesday, October 27th, 3:00 – 4:00pm ET
Register in advance here.
Plan Your Vote: Perhaps the most important and stable message between now and the election is making a plan to vote. Given changing processes with COVID-19, this is more important than ever.
Vote Faithfully Toolkit for election engagement
2020 Census Toolkit for census engagement, right now effective through the end of September.
Civic Engagement on this page we will continue to add resources as we create them, on track for at least one new resource a week between now and Election Day.
Faith and Citizenship: A Guide to Effective Advocacy for Episcopalians: we just rewrote this training guide for advocacy.
Postcard Project: a guide for hosting “slow advocacy” events to write elected officials.
Resource on Misinformation: a critical resource that is unique for faith communities.
Make Me an Instrument of Peace: a course with ChurchNext on civil discourse. There are multiple ways to engage this material.
Bulletin Inserts - Election Engagement: As the U.S. approaches Election Day, November 3rd, Sermons That Work is teaming up with The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations and four writers from across the Church to reflect on the Christian call to participate in our common life together through voting.
From the Pew to the Public Square
Taking up Presiding Bishop Curry's charge for Episcopal faith communities to live out our public witness and sacred values, From the Pew to the Public Square provides quick coaching in moral agency, discernment, and decision making for social and community social change.
Bishops United Against Gun Violence
Uniting Against the Epidemics of Racism and Gun Violence: A Webinar with Bishops United Against Gun Violence
Date: October 19
Time: 1/12 p.m. (EST/CST)Join Bishops United Against Gun Violence on Monday, October 19 at 1 p.m. Eastern for an online conversation with key gun violence prevention partners. Together we’ll explore how the intersection of racism, gun violence and the COVID-19 pandemic informs our Christian obligation to vote faithfully.
Panelists include:
Greg Jackson of the Community Justice Action Fund
Bettina Lanyi of Brady
Rebecca Blachly of the Office of Government Relations
Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.
You can join the webinar here on the Episcopalians United Against Gun Violence Facebook page or register to join the webinar on Zoom.
Praying for an End to Gun Violence: A Service of Lament, Hope, and Resolve
Date: October 27
Time: 5/4 p.m. (EST/CDT)One week before Election Day, join Bishops United Against Gun Violence for Praying for an End to Gun Violence: A Service of Lament, Hope and Resolve.You can watch here on this Facebook page or join the Zoom webinar by registering at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_FKMEUG1sRnyDsCfoFT_GOg.This online service will address the difficult times in which America finds itself, lament the continuing gun violence epidemic in our country and offer an opportunity for attendees to take action and pledge to follow the path of nonviolence.The service will be led by bishops of the Bishops United network. The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington will preach.