Day 17 – Rabbi Simone Schicker

Rabbi Simone Schicker, Temple B’nai Israel, Kalamazoo Michigan, Member Congregation of Gamaliel affiliate ISAAC

 

We are living during divisive times. Every time we log onto social media, read or watch the news or even drive along our neighborhood streets we see the division. Neighbor against neighbor, family member against family member. We know the way forward is to be united, united as one human family yet we find ourselves struggling to see humanity in the other – we are struggling to see the Beloved Community of the Eternal One. It is painful to see the disregard for our neighbor when we are commanded to care for the widow and orphan, to treat the stranger as one of us.

During this election season may we work towards finding humanity in our neighbors, in our family members, in our friends. Let us not lock ourselves inside a bubble of agreement, rather let us push ourselves to reach out and break down the barriers of hatred. This is a lot to ask but we know that without coming together we will continue along this path of divisiveness. A path that leads to hurt not healing. We need healing Eternal One, healing of the body and the soul. The soul you breathed into us needs healing, needs guidance, needs the hope only You can provide. The body you formed for us needs healing, needs nourishment, needs love. We pray for healing Eternal One, for ourselves, our neighbors, our families and our friends. We especially pray for healing for our country, which is pulling itself apart at the seams.

 

Questions for Reflection

  1. What healing do you need?
  2. How can you be of support to someone in your life who needs healing?
  3. How can voting your values lead to healing?
  4. What can you do this election season to start to heal the divide?

 

Sacred Texts: 

Numbers 12:13

וַיִּצְעַ֣ק מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵ֕ל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ׃

“So Moses cried out to Adonai, saying, “O God, pray heal her!”

 

Jeremiah 17:14

רְפָאֵ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ וְאֵ֣רָפֵ֔א הוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נִי וְאִוָּשֵׁ֑עָה כִּ֥י תְהִלָּתִ֖י אָֽתָּה׃

“Heal me, Adonai, and let me be healed; Save me, and let me be saved; For You are my glory.”

The Common Prayer on Our Journey

Source of all being, Sacred mystery, you are the wellspring of justice. Weaver of the warp and weft of history, weave our lives into the fabric of your will. Guide us towards the Beloved Community. Forgive us when we have failed to give shape to the Beloved Community in our communities and in our lives.

All around us the ugly onslaughts of white nationalism, hate crimes, and systemic racism devastate your people, divide us, and threaten our democracy. All around us the wicked strut, and in high places are those who encourage the basest of attitudes and actions. Grant us wisdom and courage to confront these evils with the power of love and truth. Free us from timidity and equivocation. Help us to be bold in thought and action. May our lives and our faith communities model the change we hope to see in the world.

As we approach the November elections, keep us mindful that the right to vote is a sacred trust won by beatings, by imprisonments, by blood, by the relentless struggles of many who came before us. Help us to honor that legacy. May we vote our conscience and encourage others to do the same.

Heal our nation. Heal our hearts. Heal our nation. Amen.

Gamaliel National Religious Leaders’ Caucus invites you to 40 Days of Reflection on Our Journey to the Polls

Few national elections have had similar consequences as the November Election in 2020. Our nation stands in crisis and at a significant crossroad. The Gamaliel Network, an interfaith coalition of persons of faith who stand and act together for justice and equality, pledges to undergird the 40 days leading up to the election with prayer and reflection.

We urge you to use the Common Prayer below every day. On each day, we have asked a faith leader, from different traditions, to offer a reflection on the Common Prayer at this Moment of American Crossroads. We urge you to begin this prayer preparation with a day of fasting on Sept. 24,(or a similar expression of spiritual preparation), and then to engage in prayer at a time of your choosing each day, to prepare yourself, your friends and neighbors, and our nation, for this election.

The Gamaliel Religious Leaders Table has written a “Theological Statement on Hate Crimes and White Nationalism.” a faith statement on “White Nationalism.” The link to this statement is: https://gamaliel.org/our-work/religious-leaders-caucus/gnrlc-a-faithful-response-to-hate-crimes-and-white-nationalism/
Each reflection will include the leader’s personal reflection, questions for contemplation, and a suggested scriptural text from their tradition.

The Gamaliel National Religious Leaders’ Steering Committee

40 Days of Prayer and Reflection Ends with Time of Post-Election Prayer, Processing – and Planning

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Election Day – Rev. Dr. John C. Welch

November 3, 2020 | Comments Off on Election Day – Rev. Dr. John C. Welch

Day 40 – Rabbi Doug Alpert

November 2, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 40 – Rabbi Doug Alpert

Day 39 – David Liners

November 1, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 39 – David Liners

Day 38 – Rev. Marian Boyle-Rohloff

October 31, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 38 – Rev. Marian Boyle-Rohloff

Day 37 – Rev. H. J. Coleman, Jr.

October 30, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 37 – Rev. H. J. Coleman, Jr.

Day 36 – Rev. Cynthia Owen Jarrold

October 29, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 36 – Rev. Cynthia Owen Jarrold

Day 35 – Rev. David Bigsby

October 28, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 35 – Rev. David Bigsby

Day 34 – Sr. Carol Johannes

October 27, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 34 – Sr. Carol Johannes

Day 33 – Rev. David Carl Olson

October 26, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 33 – Rev. David Carl Olson

Day 32 – Dr. Stephen D. Jones

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Day 31 – Rev. Dr. Ray Pickett

October 24, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 31 – Rev. Dr. Ray Pickett

Day 30 – Reirin Gumbel

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Day 29 – Rev. Charles Baugh

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Day 28 – Janan Najeeb

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Day 27 – Anahkwet (Guy Reiter)

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Day 26 – Ben Ramirez

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Day 25 – Rev. Tex Sample

October 18, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 25 – Rev. Tex Sample

Day 24 – Rev. Dr. Heather Entrekin

October 17, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 24 – Rev. Dr. Heather Entrekin

Day 23 – Rev. Cherisna Jean-Marie

October 16, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 23 – Rev. Cherisna Jean-Marie

Day 22 – Imam Christopher Caras

October 15, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 22 – Imam Christopher Caras

Day 21 – Associate Elder Dorla Coleman Bonner

October 14, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 21 – Associate Elder Dorla Coleman Bonner

Day 20 – Rev. David Gerth

October 13, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 20 – Rev. David Gerth

Day 19 – Sister Cheryl Liske

October 12, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 19 – Sister Cheryl Liske

Day 18 – Rev. Canon Peg Chemberlin

October 11, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 18 – Rev. Canon Peg Chemberlin

Day 16 – Bishop J. Drew Sheard

October 9, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 16 – Bishop J. Drew Sheard

Day 15 – Mary Gonzales

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Day 14 – Pardeep Kaleka

October 7, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 14 – Pardeep Kaleka

Day 13 – Rev. Charles H. Coleman, Sr.

October 6, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 13 – Rev. Charles H. Coleman, Sr.

Day 12 – Pastor Mary Martha Kannass

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Day 11 – Fr. Frederick Thelen

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Day 10 – Rev. B. De Neice Welch

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Day 9 – Rev. Dennis Jacobsen

October 2, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 9 – Rev. Dennis Jacobsen

Day 8 – Sr. Anneliese Sinnott

October 1, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 8 – Sr. Anneliese Sinnott

Day 7 – Rev. Dr. Vincent Kolb

September 30, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 7 – Rev. Dr. Vincent Kolb

Day 6 – Dr. Stacy L. Spencer

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Day 5 – Rev. Marilyn Miller

September 28, 2020 | Comments Off on Day 5 – Rev. Marilyn Miller

Day 4 – Fr. Rudolph (Rudy) Juarez

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Day 3 – Rev. Susan Engh

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Day 2 – Rabbi David B. Cohen

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