Working towards the Beloved Community

Once again the star wheel turns and we reach the Christian season of Lent. Over the years, my progressive Christian clergy friends and associates in South Hayward Parish have been a positive influence. They have modeled ways to make the liturgical calendar meaningful in our lives and community.

When I came to Hayward , a practice already existed to recognize and remember people who died in the area as a result of violence.

Back in 1995, there was a rash of murders in the Hayward area. As waves of violence continued to wash over the town, there was a sense of helplessness and grief among people and leadership. South Hayward Parish clergy members wondered aloud together how to address such a massive and randomly occurring problem. We decided that the best way to witness was to go directly to the places where the deaths had happened. Someone remembered that this was already being done in Oakland when the same kind of violence was arising.

And so we began. Pastors and ministers of the congregations, other board members of South Hayward Parish and interested members of our churches met together on street corners, in front of 7-Elevens, near a freeway overpass or in the middle of a residential street. Many times, the dead were people we knew—friends of our members, or family members.

Sometimes we knew no one, but when we arrived, someone came by who could tell us the details of the violent event itself or who had known one or more of the people involved. We still hold these vigils of caring. Every year. And every time we hold one, we learn something new. We learn something about life, about desperation, about beauty, about forgiveness.

We learn that even though it’s been said there is no community in Hayward , we have found otherwise. We have seen it, at times more than others. We have learned more about people than we could by reading the papers. We have become increasingly committed to building community. If you would like to join our group to witness to the caring and compassion of community, you are welcome. The Sunday announcement page will list the location of upcoming Friday noontime vigils, which last about fifteen to twenty minutes.

If your schedule doesn’t allow your direct participation, your good thoughts are welcome. In faith we continue to work to bring on the Beloved Community.