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As witness against gun violence, diocesan members to walk "Way of the Cross" in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Capitol Building
By: 
Nina Nicholson

During the pre-dawn hours of Monday, March 25 – the Monday in Holy Week – some 60 people from the Diocese of Newark will head to Washington, D.C., where they will join hundreds of Episcopalians from across the country in challenging the epidemic of gun violence that claims so many thousands of American lives each year.

Led by Bishop Mark Beckwith and Canon Greg Jacobs, a group of clergy and lay people will board a bus shortly after 5 a.m. in order to participate in the 10:30 a.m. “Way of the Cross” service, processing from the White House to the U. S. Capitol.

All 54 seats have been reserved on the bus chartered by the diocese for the trip. Additional participants plan to travel to Washington, D.C. by other means.

The Episcopal Dioceses of Connecticut and Washington organized the service immediately after the killing of 28 students, teachers and individuals at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Numerous Connecticut clergy involved in the immediate response to the Newtown killings will participate.

In addition to the dioceses of Newark, Connecticut and Washington, Episcopalians are traveling from Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin to take part in the witness.

Carrying wooden crosses, the worshippers will make their way along Pennsylvania Avenue, stopping in front of memorials, government buildings and works of art to offer prayers for an end to violence, the culture of violence, and the economic conditions that spawn violence.

The “Way of the Cross,” also known as “Stations of the Cross,” commemorates the ordeal of Jesus from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate through his crucifixion and burial. Worshippers metaphorically walk with Jesus, stopping to offer prayers inspired by events, some legendary, that occurred as Jesus carried his cross.

“We have a busload of people joining the ‘Way of the Cross’ witness in Washington, and we have more people across our diocese who are committed to putting faith to action in reducing gun violence,” said Bishop Beckwith. “Jesus’ death, violent as it was, brought forth new life. We need to continue his witness.”

Following the "Way of the Cross" liturgy, participants will go to the Library of Congress to hear from church and government leaders about gun reform and legislative actions pending in Congress, before boarding the bus at 3:30 for the return trip to New Jersey.

Asked why she signed up for the day-long trip, Colleen Hintz, a member of Church of the Redeemer in Morristown, said, “As a mother, grandmother, nurse and woman of conscious, I’m increasingly disturbed by the ever growing number of senseless, innocent deaths involving guns. I can no longer be part of the silent majority and so I’m going to D.C. to say enough is enough, and demand that some rationality be heard.”

Responding to the same question, Christy Ward, a member of Church of the Messiah in Chester, said, “Gun violence is tearing us apart as a society. When we can't feel safe in our own neighborhoods and schools, when we speak of arming our teachers with guns instead of computers, when we can't safely walk to the corner store, something has to change!”

Those not traveling to Washington, D.C. are invited to follow along; the specially written Stations of the Cross, focusing on the tragedy of violence, is available online for download. It can also be adapted for use in local contexts.

Congregations holding Holy Week services to stand against gun violence are invited to post their event information on the Episcopalians Against Gun Violence Facebook page.