A prayer for America in the midst of chaos

The Rev. John Dorhauer, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, released the following statement at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, Jan. 6, after a pro-Trump mob took over the U.S. Capitol.

I have spent the last hour watching as our Capitol endures a coup attempt at the hands of armed terrorists. They were empowered by the words of our own president who invited them to take action. They have now swarmed the Capitol and breached its safety barriers. I watched as the Vice President was escorted out of the Senate chamber by his secret service guards. I watched as our elected representatives were told to take cover under their desks, put on their gas masks, and find shelter. I have seen bodies carried out on stretchers, armed protestors bang in doors and break windows, tear gas bombs go off and terror threaten the hallowed halls of our democracy.

I never in my life thought I would ever witness such a thing.

It is a night for prayer, my friends. I call us all to pray tonight for a peace to settle throughout our land. Before this escalates further, may we all be vigilant in our prayerful support for a quick and peaceful end to this.

Let us pray for the elected representatives and their staff who are going to spend a number of harrowing hours waiting and watching.

Let us pray for the officers of the law who will risk their lives in an effort to defend our democracy.

Let us pray for America – a land of democratic ideals that doesn’t always live out those ideals perfectly, but which has long been a beacon of light and hope for many who live with the hope of being free citizens in a free state.

God help us all.

Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.

Tonight, the United Church of Christ is calling the Church to join a prayer vigil at 7:30 p.m ET. Join the officers and staff in this national prayer for the unity of our nation by registering here.