The recent heartbreaking and explosive events that inflamed protests and violence in a number of American cities also inspired demonstrations in Caroline County, but ours rallied around unity and mutual support, offering prayers for peace, guidance and understanding.
Friday an impromptu group of Facebook friends gathered at noon on the lawn of Caroline Courthouse to pray for the nation.
Sunday evening the Rev. Duane Fields, Sr. of Oxford Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Ruther Glen organized a special prayer service, a non-denominational plea for comfort and guidance in this time of need.
“My theme has been, that at the end of the day, we have to invoke God’s Presence,” he said.
His invitation to invoke the power of many prayers was answered by more than two dozen members of the local clergy.
Fields directed the diverse crowd of people, who had come on short notice to Lowe-Massey Park behind the Dawn School, to hold hands and make a huge circle around the ministers and about 20 law enforcement officers who also attended the event.
Sherriff Tony Lippa, Major Scott Moser and a group of Caroline County deputies, along with several Virginia State Troopers and Commonwealth’s Attorney John Mahoney, stood in the circle to receive the blessings that were offered.
Members of the clergy, some quietly, others passionately, offered up prayers for peace and guidance for law enforcement, young men, young women, the media, and all people, both locally and nationally.
Several of those present mentioned the unusually large attendance at their regularly scheduled church services that morning, evidence that many in the community have been disturbed and disheartened by recent events.
The moving service ended with everyone hugging the person next to them and saying, “I love you.”
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