Mourning Into Unity
When we see our shared humanity, we strengthen our commitment to our society and our democracy. Light a candle in solidarity.
When we see our shared humanity, we strengthen our commitment to each other and to our democracy.
On the eve of Georgia’s special election, with the whole world watching, many of us are feeling sad, tense and scared about the future of our country. Please join us for a peace vigil promising restoration and rejuvenation. Come rest in the wisdom of diverse faith leaders, healthcare workers and community leaders at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, including:
- Paige Alexander - CEO, The Carter Center
- Ed Bacon - Interim Rector, St. Luke's Episcopal Church
- Soumaya Khalifa - Executive Director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau Atlanta
- John Vaughn - Executive Pastor, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church Atlanta
- Eric Robbins - President, Jewish Federation
Join from wherever you are via Vimeo Livestream at 6 PM ET on Sunday 1/3.
You might actually feel better and you'll be helping our country!
Today more than ever, we are a broken nation in a broken world, and it is up to each one of us as individuals, whether you believe in a god or no god, to come together and bring us back in a healing way to unity and wholeness.
Rabbi Sydney Mintz, Temple Emanu-El
Mourning Into Unity is a response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the unvoiced grief so many of us feel. Nationwide, houses of worship are gathering to mourn and unite through a peaceful, candlelight vigil.
The pandemic has laid bare cruel fissures in our society. So much loss is being endured: loss of life, loss of jobs, loss of health insurance, loss of safe schools.
When we grieve as one, we reject efforts to use the ravages of this disease and its cruel and disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable to divide us.
View the schedule and register today.
View schedule & registerWhat are Mourning Into Unity vigils?
Churches, synagogues, and mosques across the country will be hosting two candlelight vigils outside their houses of worship (HOW). Attendees can choose to join socially-distanced in-person, in their cars, or online.
What are our goals?
To come together as a nation to mourn our devastating losses and declare our unity as Americans and people of faith. When we see our shared humanity, we strengthen our commitment to each other and our democracy.
For more information about why we created Mourning Into Unity, click below.
It’s easier to be mad or scared than it is to be sad. But being scared or mad will not lead to healing -- only mourning can do that.
Rev. Brenda Kneece, South Carolina
Led by faith leaders and healthcare professionals
Faith community members can choose whether to participate from home or from cars parked at their house of worship where they can see and hear the event via Zoom. After each vigil participants can continue online in hosted chat rooms to grieve personal and shared losses experiences. All in-person events will have social distancing and mask usage.
Washington D.C. vigil
The October 19th vigil took place in BLM Plaza. Following the vigil, the Washington, DC host community, the Church of the Epiphany led by Rev. Glenna Huber processed to the White House with 460 feet of purple fabric: the sign of our unbroken humanity. Liturgical violinist Dr. Melanie Hill performed in the sacred space.
Participating safely during a pandemic
You choose how to participate in a way that is best for you and your loved ones.
In person
If you feel comfortable attending in person, you can take part in the vigil outside your house of worship, while being sure to wear a mask and maintain social distance. Don't forget to bring a candle and matches. If you would like to bring photos or mementos of someone in particular you'd like to honor, please bring those items as well.
Online
You can participate in the vigil from the comfort of your home via streaming on Zoom or Facebook Live. All Mourning Into Unity events can be found on the Reimagine website. On Zoom events, you can light your candle and share your light virtually with all others in attendance. Some events will have breakout rooms after the vigil where you can connect with fellow mourners.
From parked cars on-site
Drive to your house of worship or a nearby street where you can watch and hear the vigil via Zoom. Looking left and right, you will see other participants in their cars. Cars can be decorated with symbols of mourning, such as "fairy lights" on the interior dashboard. When the vigil lights their tapers, cars can turn on their headlights. Sites can choose whether to end the vigil with a car procession around the house of worship.
Launching a vigil in your community
View the toolkit
We’ve made it easy to come on board. Click here for a toolkit on everything you need to know about starting a Mourning Into Unity vigil in your own community.
View the orientation video
This orientation will teach you everything you need to know about how you can host an Morning Into Unity event and be part of this national movement.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:50)
Participating Hosts
Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, CA
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York, NY
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Tampa, FL
Union Congregational United Church of Christ, West Palm Beach, FL
Wesley United Methodist Church, Kenosha, WI
First United Methodist Church, Kenosha, WI
Community United Methodist Church, Huntington Beach, CA
Islamic House of Wisdom, Dearborn Heights, MI
Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Detroit, MI
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, GA
Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC
Marshall Memorial Methodist Church, Anderson, SC
Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Anderson, SC
Reformation Lutheran Church, Columbia, SC
New Mexico Conference of Churches, Albuquerque, NM
Carthage College, Kenosha, WI
First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Seattle, WA
Bedford Presbyterian Church, Bedford, NH
Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Harbor, ME
Faith Action Network, Tri Cities, WA
St. Agatha Catholic Church, Chicago, IL
United Church of Ferndale, Ferndale, WA
Congregation Bene Shalom, Skokie, IL
News & Press
Seattle Times
October 21, 2020
NPR All Things Considered
October 19, 2020
Seattle Times
October 16, 2020
Boston Globe
October 14, 2020
Florida Council of Churches
October 1, 2020
Please support Mourning Into Unity with a donation
ContributeMeet the Organizers
Amy Sommers
Amy Sommers is a civic activist who seeks to promote inclusive democracy through involvement with groups such as P4Progress, Common Power, and other voter protection and participation initiatives. Previously, she was a lawyer engaged in international law practice, with a particular focus on China. Whether one is negotiating an international joint venture or mobilizing voters in marginalized communities, an ability to assess competing considerations and synthesize them in a cohesive manner to achieve a desired goal turns out to be a useful skill.
Mary Claude Foster
Mary Claude Foster is an emerging activist who spent 30 years circumnavigating the globe as a network television news journalist covering “both sides” of every story. She's interviewed world leaders, covered international conflicts, US presidential politics, race, and immigration. Now retired, she is enjoying finding her own voice on issues she cares about and working for inclusive democracy through groups like P4Progress and Common Power. She has a particular interest in the intersection of politics and religion.
Nancy Iannucci
Nancy Iannucci is currently a Vice President and partner with her husband at Waterstone Brands, a wholesale footwear company. She serves on various Seattle boards relating to the arts and the city parks. She is a frequent volunteer, concentrating on her interests in democracy, social justice, education, and the arts. Her favorite volunteer activity is through One America where she registers new citizens to vote at the USCIS naturalization ceremonies. She loves registering voters and encouraging people to exercise their constitutional rights.
Reimagine
The Mourning Into Unity project is supported by Reimagine, a nonprofit organization aimed at transforming our experience of dying, grieving...and living. We believe that in facing death, we begin to live more fully. Since COVID, we have been hosting virtual candlelight vigils that bring people together from across the country to honor all those we've lost. It is important at this exact moment of history for there to be a concentrated effort to create more spaces for mourning and unity.
Thank you
Logo design by Alex Britton
Amy Sommers headshot by Jeff Berryman
