Holding on to Hope

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST. In the midst of a pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor. The event will be simulcast in English and Spanish.

In addition to Bishop Curry’s sermon, the service will include reflections from Father James Martin, a noted Roman Catholic commentator on American life and values, and Valarie Kaur, an inspiring Sikh author, filmmaker, and civil rights attorney. The gathering will be officiated by Washington’s Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith, and Reverend Stephanie Spellers, Canon to the Presiding Bishop.

Prayers for the nation will come from leaders like Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core (IFY), Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Rabbi Shoshana Conover of Temple Sholom, Chicago, and Shane Claiborne, speaker, activist, and best-selling author. Music from The Coro de la Cathedral of Christ Church Cathedral-Indianapolis and Washington National Cathedral will help to lift and open hearts. Read more about the speakers and participants.

A live prayer hotline in English and Spanish will be open during the service, staffed by Episcopal clergy and chaplains, in partnership with TryTank at Virginia Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary. The hotline will be open from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. EST from November 1 to November 5.

How to Participate

Congregations: A live stream embed code is provided and available to any congregation that would like to add the stream to their own website or sharing the Facebook feed from The Episcopal Church. Congregations are invited to host watch-parties as part of their All Saints’ Day observance and Election Day preparations. You can find the embed code by clicking on the "share" in the top-right corner video player at the top of this page.

Individuals: Join us live here on this page, Sunday, November 1, at 4 pm EST, or on our Facebook page. Consider hosting a watch-party and inviting friends and neighbors to join you online for the service.

Small Groups: Watch as a group over a platform such as Zoom and join together in prayer for our country.

Engagement Resources

The call to care for our nation extends beyond one day or one service. Below will find additional resources on how to faithfully strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of all.

Civic Engagement Opportunities
Social Justice and Engagement  
Praying for our Country
The Good News of Lament

Press & Media Resources

Press Release (The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs)
National Cathedral to host national interfaith prayer service on Nov 1.  (Episcopal News Service)