Pondering Pastor

Citizens in Maryland are in for “electioneering” from now until the November elections, and it isn’t related to the Presidential race.  Slots are on the ballot and the rhetoric will become quite tiresome.

The Baltimore Sun reports on May 6, 2008 that Governor O’Malley continues to push hard for slots in the state.  Excerpts from that article:

Residents of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC vote in our primaries today.

As I entered my polling place this morning, the poll workers were laughing and having a good time.  They were pleasant, but something seemed odd.  There are two precincts voting where I vote, in an elementary school.  I had to first locate the proper poll worker and machine, which was a little confusing.  I had to locate my address on a small map that included only the street names within the precinct boundaries.  It is a little hard to locate one’s street when there are very few reference points!  Then, once I was properly positioned in front of the appropriate poll worker, I needed only to supply my name and address, with no form of ID required.  The poll worker indicated that the machine had not been working all morning, but that for me it seemed to work.  My “smart card” was prepared and I was directed to the voting machine to cast my electronic vote.  I was in and out within about 2 minutes.

The church I serve is a polling place.  We’ve forbidden any electioneering on church property and forbidden the posting of any political signs on church property.  I laughed when I arrived at the church this morning.  No signs had been posted on church property, but three were planted on the neighbor’s property, within inches of the apparent property line.  This was the first time we know that any campaigns even read our posted policy!

My spouse called a few minutes ago.  She just voted and was asked by a poll worker, “Do you know where you live?”.  That’s quite a question!  It was all an attempt to determine which precinct she was to vote in, but seriously, “do you know where you live?”  If not, maybe you shouldn’t be voting.

The poll workers at the church I serve are a cold lot.  We lost our heat in that part of the building (a frozen circulating pump is being repaired as I write).  The temperature is 64 degrees in the room, and some of the poll workers are wearing mittens.  They try not to sit still for very long.

Pondering Pastor

With the Annapolis Summit being held on Tuesday, November 27th, the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East offers six prayers for peace.  Please use them for your personal devotions, as appropriate.

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From Rabbi Herbert Bronstein, Emeritus
Northshore Congregation Israel, Glencoe, Ill.

Sustain together in undiminished hope, O God of hope, those who continue to labor with undiminished determination to build peace in the land from which, of old, out of brokenness, violence and destruction, nevertheless hope emerged for so many of faith. .Bless all the spiritual seed of Abraham together with the light of your Presence. For in the light of your Presence we have found a way of justice and mercy and a vision of Peace. We praise you O God, Giver of Peace, who commands us to Peace. Amen

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From the Reverend Said Ailabouni,
Senior Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange, Ill.

God of mercy and compassion, of grace and reconciliation, pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East: Jews, Muslims and Christians, Palestinians and Israelis. Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope, oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation, that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces, and peace and justice could be experienced by all. Amen

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From Dawud Ahmad Assad
Council of Mosques USA, New York, N.Y.

In the Name of God, The Everlasting Merciful, The Cherisher Of the Worlds and Worthy of all Praise, Our Lord: You have created us from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made us into Nations and Tribes that we may Know one another (not that we may despise each other) so Help us to love each other and take the hatred and anger from our Hearts so that People of The Book (Jews, Christians and Muslims) In the Middle East may live in Peace and Justice. Amen

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From Rabbi H. Rolando Matalon
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, New York, N.Y.

God Source of Life, Creator of Peace. . . Help Your children, anguished and confused, To understand the futility of hatred and violence And grant them the ability to stretch across Political, religious and national boundaries So they may confront horror and fear By continuing together In the search for justice, peace and truth. . . With every fiber of our being, we beg You, O God, To help us not to fail nor falter. Amen

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From the Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, OSM
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Ill.

Lord God, we turn to you in these trying hours when conflict is a daily reality for our sisters and brothers in Israel and Palestine. We promise you to work to our utmost for peace and reconciliation in the region. But we know we cannot do it alone. We very much need the strength of your presence in our midst if we are to overcome the obstacles before us. So our prayer at this moment is that you add your support to our efforts, that you show yourself as a tower of strength in those moments when the barriers seem impassable. Together we can become beacons of hope for just and peaceful societies in the land so very dear to the peoples of your covenant.   Amen

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From Abdelwahab Hechiche
University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.

Almighty God! After almost a century of mistrust and fratricide, you inspired Jews, Christians and Muslims to take the path of reconciliation in the Middle East. . . We ask for your forgiveness, O God, yet we find it hard to forgive our past enemies. May Your Words touch those who still stray in the wilderness of vengeful violence, forgetting your command to “forgive and overlook, till God accomplishes His Purpose; for God hath power over all things.”     Amen

Pondering Pastor