Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President Rev. Peter Morales participated in an interfaith worship service on Thursday, January 6, 2011, marking the inauguration of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Deputy Gov. Timothy Murphy.
Morales represented Unitarian Universalists in the ceremony, and gave the opening reading in the day’s responsive prayers to hundreds of worshipers gathered at Old South Church in Boston’s Copley Square.
“It was an honor to be among the participants in Gov. Patrick’s inaugural service,” said Morales. “It is my sincere hope that the spirit I witnessed today from my fellow clergy speaks to the beginning of an era when we will all stand on the side of love, with an understanding that our common ground is far more compelling than our differences.”
In his reading, Morales asked that “we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the nation,” a sentiment echoed by other members of the gathering of interfaith leaders, including Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, Dr. Imam Talal Eid, president of the Islamic Institute of Boston, and Cedric Cromwell, chairman of Massachusetts’ Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. In all, twenty-two faith participants read or sang during the service. See a complete list of participating faith leaders below.
For his part in the service, Morales was asked to read the following prayer:
Because you alone, o God, are our strength and wisdom; because we cannot do the hard and tender work of leadership and governing without your help, we turn to you and humbly ask for your aid. O God, bless the leaders of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the nation. To those who seek and work for peace, give courage and honor, hope and strength; that by word and example they may call forth your reconciling love and with your aid, achieve your desire of justice and peace. We pray.
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is a faith community of more than 1,000 self-governing congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance and social justice. For more information on the UUA, including recent press releases and news articles, please visit our online press room.
Contact
Daisy Kincaid, Public Relations Director
Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 948-4386
dkincaid @ uua.org
List of Participating Faith Leaders
The Reverend Dr. Jim Antal, Minister and President, Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, Framingham
The Right Reverend Roy Cederholm, Bishop Suffragan, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Boston
The Reverend June Cooper, Executive Director, City Mission Society of Boston
Cedric Cromwell, Chairman, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Mashpee
The Reverend Brandon T. Crowley, Myrtle Baptist Church, West Newton
Dr. Imam Talal Eid, President, Islamic Institute of Boston
Elder Matthew Eyring, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Belmont
The Reverend Hurmon E. Hamilton, Roxbury Presbyterian Church, Black Ministerial Alliance & Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, Boston
Dr. Samuel Byron Hogan, Bishop of Massachusetts, First Jurisdiction, Church of God in Christ
Rabbi Daniel H. Liben, President, Massachusetts Board of Rabbis & Temple Israel, Natick
His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston
The Reverend Peter Morales, President, Unitarian Universalist Association
His Eminence Cardinal Sean Patrick P. O’Malley, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Boston
Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director, Union for Reform Judaism, Just Congregations
The Reverend Ronny Sanchez, United Chaplain International, Springfield
Mr. Karl S. Sandberg, The First Church of Christ, Scientist
Cantor Hollis Schachner, Temple Shir Tikva, Wayland
The Reverend Talbert W. Swan, II, Pastor, Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ, Springfield
The Rev. Dr. Nancy S. Taylor, Senior Minister, Old South Church in Boston
The Reverend J. Keith Tolley, President, Vision New England, Acton
The Reverend Liz Walker, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Boston
The Right Reverend Walter J. Weekes, Sr., Bishop, Apostolic, Christ Tabernacle Apostolic Church, Worcester
