On March 30, The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont will host a Vigil of Lament at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Bishop Shannon will preside. Download the bulletin.
This service will be an opportunity for our diocesan household to come together and lament the injustice and violence that have become commonplace in the United States and world wide.
In his Ash Wednesday letter to The Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe called for all dioceses to hold a Service of Lament. He wrote “We see the principalities and powers promulgating violence, dehumanization, and injustice on our streets, and it seems nearly impossible not to react along the lines of the divisions and polarization that our political leaders have championed. It is easy to have a hardened heart. It is tempting to get angry and be governed by outrage, or to grow cold and indifferent.”
This vigil provides our diocesan household an opportunity to come together, to bear witness and commit once again to our baptismal vows to persevere in resisting evil and to strive for justice and peace. Now is the time for us be diligent in prayer and reflection, so that as Christians, we might embody our call to speak and act against injustice in our country and in the world.
A note from Bishop Shannon on the vigil:
“Oppressive systems and regimes count on people staying stuck in hopelessness. As we seek to find hope and courage in these wicked times, we must be mindful of how important it is to be in community, and to stay close to, and aware of our feelings and emotions. This is part of what makes us human. This Holy Week, as we journey to the cross with Jesus, may we be reminded of how Jesus remained human; feelings, emotions, and pain; that we might know the joy, victory and power of the resurrection.”
The Vigil of Lament will be held on the Green Mountain Online Abbey Zoom and the bulletin is available on the diocesan website.
