Weekend in Washington D.C.-- part 2

That's Jerry in the yellow
After our tour of FCNL, Jerry and I marshaled our resources, dressed in layers and made our way to the National Cathedral for the 7:00 pm service . A candlelight march to the White House was scheduled after the service with all attenders invited. Shuttle busses were to be provided for those unable/unwilling to walk the four miles. The plan was to encircle the White House with praying Christians.



We arrived at 5:45 and joined the queue on the steps, trying to find shelter from the sleet and wind. After a short time officials told us we could not wait on the steps and herded us all to a close by St. Alban's school building. They assured us that we would not lose our place in the line if we just waited for them to take us back at 6:45. One thing can be said for old age, and that is that if you live long enough you develop the ability to smell baloney from afar. Jerry and I didn't enter the main part of the building with the majority of the crowd but bided (bode?) our time in the entry area for a while before easing out the door and striding back to the cathedral. Sure enough, another crowd was gathering at the doors. We soon joined them and gained entry well before the unfortunates who followed directions.

The cathedral is (of course) huge. Being used to more plain places of worship, the Gothic architecture and vast openness were awe-inspiring. The gallery was full of news cameras. The floor was filled with about 3000 people. The service was powerful. Participants at the service included representatives of:
Adventists
Alliance of Baptists
American Friends Service Committee
Church of the Brethren
Disciples of Christ
Episcopal Church USA
Lutheran
Mennonite Church USA
National Council of Churches
Pax Christi
Presbyterian Church USA
Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship
Roman Catholic Church
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church



Highlights for me were the rousing messages brought by the Reverand Doctor Raphael G. Warnock of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and by Jim Wallis. Here are two excerpts from Rev. Wallis:

By our deepest convictions about Christian standards and teaching, the war in Iraq was not just a well-intended mistake or only mismanaged. This war, from a Christian point of view, is morally wrong – and was from the very start. It cannot be justified with either the teaching of Jesus Christ or the criteria of St. Augustine’s just war. It simply doesn’t pass either test, and did not from its beginning. This war is not just an offense against the young Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice or just to the Iraqis who have paid such a horrible price. This war is not only an offense to the poor at home and around the world who have paid the price of misdirected resources and priorities … This war is also an offense against God.

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I believe it will take faith to end this war. It will take prayer to end it. It will take a mobilization of the faith community to end it – to change the political climate, to change the wind. It will take a revolution of love to end it. Because this endless war in Iraq is based ultimately on fear; and Jesus says that only perfect love will cast out fear.

Hear his complete remarks here.
Streaming video of the complete service here.

By the time Jim Wallis concluded his remarks, big snow flakes were falling and beginning to blanket the Capitol. Upon surveying the situation, Jerry suggested that we take the shuttle bus to Lafayette Park for the vigil. Our inerrant sense of direction soon had us lost. One would think that a thing as big as a shuttle bus would not be so easy to hide. After wandering around a while, we found our way back to the hotel utilizing alternative transport. We were entirely out of sync with the rest of the participants and arrived at a deserted Lafayette Park way before the crowd on foot. We stood alone in the park gazing at the "beautiful White House" wondering what to do in a situation like this. The answer eventually came to us: Find a restaurant (of course). This involved another significant hike. By the time we had consumed some more seafood, we realized returning to the park would involve the hike back and we (being longer of tooth than some and starting to feel our ages) decided that it would be prudent to turn in and rest up for the rigors of the following day.

Later that night, 100 dedicated peace activists (obviously way more dedicate than us) were arrested for praying in front of the White House. Jerry and I never intended to get arrested, merely to take part in the vigil.

Next: Part 3