Bridgeport Prayer Vigil For Our Sisters and Brothers, Imprisoned or Detained

To Our Neighbors and Community Members in Bridgeport!

For those who have not yet received an invitation to Thursday's Vigil, please consider this yours!

All are welcome as we gather to pray, especially for those in prison or detained. The prayers will include prayers for prisoners, detainees, parole officers, guards, our elected officials and law makers, police, the sheriff, judges,our youth, our families, our neighbors, ourselves, those caught in the system, and many more—all touched by incarceration, detention, and our criminal justice system.

In addition to prayers, petitions and spiritual songs, we will hear a few brief reflections from community members about their varied experiences with our justice system. Speakers will include a retired parole officer, a former prisoner and convicted felon, clergy, family members and individuals of those migrated to the US. Also, young teenage community member will speak whose father is in prison.

All faith and all walks of life are welcome at the vigil, planned as an ecumenical Christian service. In the longstanding tradition of Christian vigils, community members are invited to wear white to symbolize hope, peace, and unity. You may also bring names or photos to add to the lists of those prayed for, and bring your own candles, or means of remembrance for those apart from us, in prison, or detained.

The vigil will last less than an hour, near the alley just west of 31st and Halsted.

All are welcome.

See you then!

Thanks!

Rev. Tom Gaulke, First Lutheran Church of the Trinity

“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'” - Jesus, Matthew 25:36

Jesus unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the captives go free,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. -Luke 4:17b-21