Dear Friends,
Four Friends met on Independence Mall last Sunday, December 5, 1999, to pray for peace in the world. Three of us were from Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting. We were praying there less than 24 hours after a Philadelphia well-known journalist had been stabbed to death in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood, the night before. Later, it was reported that four people had been slain between Friday night and Saturday night in the city.
Bill Ludlow was one of the Friends present. In spite of his old age and his knee condition, he stood with us until the end of the vigil, a sign hanging from his neck: OPEN THE WAY TO PEACE IN YOUR HEART AND THE WORLD.
Marcelle, who is staying in her mother's house in Woodstock, VA, for a month-long retreat, joined us for the prayer vigil there. She writes about her experience:
Before I went to Woodstock, I'd asked my mother to check out possibilities for two vigil sites on Main Street; one was at the courthouse and the other at her church, St. John Bosco Catholic Church. The church's pastor had given permission to hold the vigil on church property.
I was afraid that if the prayer vigil was held in front of the church, members of other churches might be more reluctant to join, but I was hopeful about the possibility that the vigil might continue after I left. I made flyers and took them to several local businesses, which posted them in their windows or on their bulletin boards. I gave flyers to some people at the church whom my mother had introduced me to, including the pastor.
Sunday was a warm and beautiful day in this part of Virginia. Woodstock is a small town just west of the Shenandoah mountains. I had made two large posters and attached them to a low step ladder so that one poster was visible to cars traveling on each side of busy Main Street. One poster said: "Pray for Peace in the World and in your (picture of a heart)." The other poster said "Paz en la Tierra, Peace on Earth". (I was told that St. John Bosco's Church has a large Latino population; they have one mass in Spanish.)
For the first ten or fifteen minutes of the vigil I stood alone. Nervously aware that I was a stranger — and a Northerner — in a small Southern town where even my mother is a newcomer, at first I prayed for peace in my own heart. I took comfort from a sense of connection to my companions praying on Independence Mall. Soon I began to feel more peaceful, connected to the ground under my feet and the beauty around me, and my heart opened to pray for the whole world. Behind the houses lining Main Street, I could see the Shenandoah mountain range ahead of me. All around, the sky was wide open, blue with thin clouds.
Only one person passed by the sidewalk; she averted her eyes as she passed and did not respond to my smile. However, a steady stream of drivers took note of my solitary figure, standing alone in prayer. Then I was joined by two members of the church, who had just come out of a film and discussion session about the many apparitions of Mary around the world during this century, warning of disastrous events to come if humanity did not change its ways and turn to God. My two companions carried on a conversation throughout the rest of the vigil. Their talk included the power of prayer and their preparations for the turmoil they expect soon. I wondered what I should say or how I could gather them to join me more directly in prayer for peace.
I folded my hands in prayer. It became windy and cold through the hour, and my hands grew cold. The sun slowly began to set, turning the western horizon beautiful colors. One of my companions started shivering. At the close of the hour, I asked them to pray with me and I said a simple prayer out loud, asking God to bring peace to our hearts, to the hearts of all the people in the world, and to the Earth. My companions said "Amen" and then one helped me carry the signs and step ladder back to my mother's house two and a half blocks away.
In Philadelphia, as we said good-bye, Bill asked: Will you be here next Sunday? Yes. I hope you can join us!
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE
Independence Mall Vigil for PeacePlease join us at our weekly prayer vigils for peace in the world, held in front of the Liberty Bell on Market St. between 5th and 6th, every Sunday from 4 to 5 PM. For more information, contact cityquake@aol.com.
In our reports, participants share their experiences of the prayer vigils and explore beliefs related to their participation. Reports reflect the experience of each author and do not necessarily represent the beliefs or practice of all vigil participants. We welcome your responses, which are forwarded to the individual authors (when possible). We sometimes include part of a response in a future report, unless you ask us not to.
It is meaningful to us that you share in the vigils by reading these reports and in other ways, such as joining us in prayer.
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM